Impact of a pharmacist-run refill and prior authorization program on physician workload

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Pharmacy Practice
• Clinical Efficiency

Background:

• Pharmacist-led programs centralizing prescription renewals and prior authorization processing are increasingly implemented in healthcare systems.
• The impact of these programs on physician efficiency and workload perception remains largely unquantified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure the change in physician efficiency scores following the implementation of a refill and prior authorization pilot program (RPAPP).
• To assess changes in physician and staff perception of workload, healthcare quality metrics (CMS Star Measures), and program productivity.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study compared data from 12 months before and after RPAPP implementation at an academic medical center.
• Physician efficiency was assessed using an average of 5 electronic health record performance metrics.
• Physician and staff perceptions were evaluated through pre- and post-implementation surveys.

Main Results:

• Average physician efficiency scores improved significantly in one of two clinics (P < 0.05).
• Survey data revealed significant positive changes in physician and staff perceptions of workload and job satisfaction.
• The RPAPP contributed to improved institutional performance in two of three evaluated CMS Star Measures (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• While evaluating primary care physician workload is complex and external factors may influence outcomes, the RPAPP demonstrates potential benefits.
• The program appears to positively impact physician efficiency and satisfaction.
• Findings may guide healthcare institutions considering the implementation of similar RPAPPs.