Bridging the continuity: Practice-enhancing publications about the ambulatory care medication-use process in 2021

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Medication Safety
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The ambulatory care medication-use process (ACMUP) is fundamental for safe medication use in healthcare settings.
• Recent innovations and advancements necessitate a focus on the evolving ACMUP.
• This article addresses the ACMUP, encompassing transitions of care, prescribing, access, adherence, and monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify, prioritize, and summarize 2021 literature relevant to the ambulatory care medication-use process (ACMUP).
• To assess the usefulness of published articles for improving ambulatory pharmacy practice.
• To continue a series evaluating the literature on the ACMUP.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and selected pharmacy journals for articles published in 2021.
• Articles were screened for relevance to at least one component of the ACMUP.
• Peer ranking was used to select and prioritize the most practice-enhancing articles.

Main Results:

• A total of 6,026 articles were initially identified.
• 86 articles were deemed potentially practice-enhancing across ACMUP components.
• Key articles were summarized, with others listed for further review.

Conclusions:

• Regular review of published literature is essential for incorporating significant findings into daily pharmacy practice.
• The ACMUP remains a critical process to evaluate as healthcare delivery increasingly shifts to ambulatory settings.
• This work provides a curated selection of impactful literature for ambulatory pharmacy practitioners.