The impact of clinical pharmacist integration in a community rheumatology clinic

To describe the benefits of pharmacist integration into a community rheumatology clinic in terms of clinical outcomes, patient and provider satisfaction, and clinic time efficiency.

A 6-month study was conducted at a community rheumatology clinic to compare clinical and patient and provider satisfaction outcomes before and after a clinical pharmacist (CP) was integrated into the clinic staff to assist with providing medication counseling, ordering and monitoring laboratory tests, monitoring adverse effects and medication adherence, and titrating medication doses. The primary outcome was the change in Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID-3) scores from baseline to 3 and 6 months after CP integration. Secondary outcomes included the change in monthly pain scores from baseline to 6 months, the change in patient satisfaction scores from baseline to 6 months, and time saved for the rheumatology providers after pharmacist integration into the clinic.

The mean difference in RAPID-3 scores from baseline to 3 months (N = 55) was an improvement of 5.58 points (P < 0.001), while the mean change in weighted RAPID-3 scores was an improvement of 1.87 (P < 0.001). The mean change in RAPID-3 scores from baseline to 6 months (n = 25) was an improvement of 5.13 (P = 0.003), and the mean change in weighted RAPID-3 scores was 1.78 (P = 0.003).

The results of this quality improvement project suggest that the integration of a CP in the rheumatology clinic improved patient-reported outcomes, as quantified by patients' pain scores and RAPID-3 scores. The integration of the CP also appeared to enhance patient and provider satisfaction.