Evaluating the impact of influenza and streptococcus point-of-care testing and collaborative practice prescribing in...

To determine if a difference in the use of point-of-care (POC) testing and treatment under a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement exists between insured and uninsured patients and also between patients established with a primary care provider (PCP) and those who are not established. A secondary objective was to assess patient satisfaction with a new, pharmacist-provided service.

Two independent community pharmacies.

Perkins Drugs is an independent community pharmacy practice that operates 2 sites in Gallatin, Tennessee.

This practice innovation was pharmacist-provided POC influenza and group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis testing and associated treatment when appropriate. Pharmacists entered into a collaborative pharmacy practice agreement with a physician at a nearby primary care clinic, which allowed for the testing and prescribing of medication under a predetermined decision tree.

Patient demographics and satisfaction levels with the service were collected. The service, while continuing, was implemented in December 2018, and cumulative data were collected until April 2019.

Pharmacists tested a total of 73 patients for influenza or GAS. Of the total, 24 patients (33%) did not have an established PCP, and 31 (42.5%) were uninsured. No significant difference was found in the use of the service when comparing the insured and uninsured groups, and participants were more likely to have an established PCP than not have. Of the patients who were contacted for follow-up, 98% reported satisfaction with the delivery of the service stating they would use it again.

Community pharmacy-based POC testing provides access to urgent care services for patients regardless of insurance status. In our experience, the service was well liked by patients and provided a nondispensing source of revenue. This service could potentially be duplicated, as state-based pharmacist scope of practice allows, to provide both a needed service to patients and elevate the pharmacist's role within the health care system.