Communication networks of medication management in an ambulatory care setting

Systems approaches in healthcare address complexities of care related to medication safety. Adverse drug events can be prevented by communication between providers. Thus, methods that depict the structures and processes of communications are foundational for prevention efforts. Social network analysis is a methodology applied in healthcare settings to describe and quantify communication patterns. Knowledge of the structures and processes surrounding medication management communications will be useful to explain and intervene on related quality or safety outcomes.

The aim of this study was to use social network analysis as a tool to describe the communication structures and processes of medication management for patients on warfarin therapy in an ambulatory care setting.

A longitudinal, roster-based assessment was used for the social network analysis. Data were collected from electronic medical records and coded using a fixed-list format. Information was collected regarding who was involved as well as frequency and type of communications. The analysis followed 16 subjects at one internal medicine clinic over six months.

Structurally, communications were unidirectional and most often connected actors from different groups. Most communications were directed from nursing staff to patients. Central actors were a pharmacist, several nursing staff and one prescriber. Difference in processes were identified by characterizing communications according to level of impact on patient safety. Moderate impact communications corresponded to focused connections between providers. Further, the pharmacist was measured as the most prominent gatekeeper in moderate impact communications compared to an advanced registered nurse practitioner for low impact communications.

Medication management reflected a unidirectional and interdisciplinary communication structure that maintained process variation according to the potential impact on patient safety. The level of influence of the pharmacist as a connector in the network rose in conjunction with the level of potential impact the communication had on patient safety.