Pharmaceutical care in an integrated health system

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Clinical Pharmacy Practice
• Patient Care Management

Background:

• Integrated health systems aim to optimize resources and manpower.
• Pharmacist-led Health Management Centers (HMCs) are emerging models for comprehensive patient care.
• HMCs target chronic disease management to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-operated Health Management Center (HMC) on patient care.
• To assess the HMC's effectiveness in reducing emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
• To measure changes in patient satisfaction and quality of life.

Main Methods:

• An integrated health system established a pharmacist-operated HMC at a community hospital.
• The HMC managed chronic diseases (e.g., coagulation disorders, diabetes, hypertension) through a team approach.
• Pharmacists utilized physical assessment, point-of-care testing, and medication management.

Main Results:

• The anticoagulation service within the HMC showed a 57.9% decrease in hospitalization rates (p = .078).
• Total hospital days decreased by 71.1% (p = .108) for patients in the anticoagulation service.
• No significant change was observed in emergency department service utilization.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacist-operated HMCs can effectively manage chronic diseases and improve patient care.
• The HMC model demonstrates a successful expansion of pharmacists' roles in direct patient care.
• This pharmacist-led HMC serves as a potential model for other healthcare systems.