How Consultant Pharmacists Gained Access to Maryland's Health Information Exchange

The Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP) is a health information exchange in Maryland that is designed to improve communication among members of the health care team including physicians, nurses, and other health professionals. Senior care pharmacists gained access to CRISP through successful collaborative efforts at both the state and national levels. This involved efforts to address medication-related problems that continue to be a concern during transitions of care, especially for older, vulnerable adults. Having access to recent clinical data assists the senior care pharmacist in providing medication therapy management services during transitions of care-the movement of a patient from one setting of care to another.This article highlights the importance of collaboration and advocacy between state and national leadership of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) with key stakeholders to negotiate and gain access to such information for senior care pharmacists working in the post-acute and long-term care settings in Maryland.