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Community Pharmacies Demonstrate Early Benefits of New Pharmacy Practice Model
- By: IPA
- On: 06/02/2015 21:55:30
- In: Press Releases
Key Partners Begin Reporting Results of New Practice Model Initiative in Community Pharmacies
Since 2010, the Iowa Pharmacy Association and its New Practice Model (NPM) Task Force has been working to create a pharmacy practice model that fully utilizes the knowledge and expertise of pharmacists to improve patients' health outcomes and provide a safer, more efficient and cost-effective medication use system. Currently, seventeen pharmacies across Iowa have implemented a pharmacy technician verification process (i.e., Tech-Check-Tech) as a means to allow time for pharmacists to provide advanced pharmacy services.
With support by the Community Pharmacy Foundation and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), and in partnership with Drake University Colleges of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the Collaborative Education Institute, IPA has provided pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working at the seventeen community pharmacies the opportunity to further their professional development and patient care services through involvement in the NPM pilot project.
On November 19, 2014, ten community pharmacies were approved by the Iowa Board of Pharmacy to join the New Practice Model Initiative, adding to the original seven approved Phase 1 sites. Implementation of the Phase 2 sites began on February 2, 2015. While most Phase 1 sites were independently owned or franchise pharmacies, Phase 2 looked to demonstrate the reproducibility of the model across regional and national chain pharmacies, grocery/mass merchant pharmacies, and additional independent and franchise-based community pharmacies.
Phase 1 Locations
Medicap Pharmacy - Ames
Mercy Family Pharmacy - Dyersville
NuCara Pharmacy - Lenox
NuCara Pharmacy – Story City
NuCara Pharmacy - Traer
NuCara Pharmacy - Washington
Towncrest Pharmacy - Iowa City
Phase 2 Locations
Hartig Drug - Dubuque
Hy-Vee Pharmacy - Fort Dodge
Main at Locust Pharmacy and Medical Supplies- Davenport
Medicap Pharmacy - Indianola
Thrifty White Pharmacy - Denison
Thrifty White Pharmacy - Spencer
Target Pharmacy - Cedar Rapids
Walgreens Pharmacy - Ames
Walgreens Pharmacy - Clive
Wester Drug - Muscatine
Early results of the program have shown a non-significant change in error rates between baseline pharmacist verified refills and technician-verified refills. Although not yet statistically significant, the amount of time pharmacists spend in dispensing has been reduced with a corresponding increase in patient care activities. Medication synchronization has been a common service implemented or extended at most sites including initiating formal MedSync Programs. Other sites have incorporated formal collaborative practice agreements to better manage patients with diabetes and hypertension. All pharmacies have made significant efforts to increase provision of adult immunizations, medication therapy management, and more extensive patient counseling.
