Digital Transformation and Team-Based Care: Pharmacists in Multidisciplinary Models - A Narrative Review

Healthcare systems worldwide are increasingly challenged by the rise in chronic diseases, aging populations, and the growing demand for personalized care. Traditional models, where healthcare professionals operate independently with limited interdisciplinary communication are proving insufficient to meet the complex and interconnected needs of modern patients.

This review explores the growing importance of innovative and multidisciplinary approaches in healthcare, with a specific focus on the expanding role of pharmacists and the integration of digital tools. Unlike reviews that examine either multidisciplinary care or digital health in isolation, this review integrates evidence on how pharmacists function as clinical and digital connectors within multidisciplinary care models across diverse health systems.

This narrative review synthesized evidence on multidisciplinary care models that integrate pharmacists and digital tools. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched (2015-March 2024) using terms related to multidisciplinary care, pharmacists/clinical pharmacy, and digital health (e.g. EHRs, telehealth, AI, mHealth). English-language peer-reviewed studies describing pharmacist integration in team-based and/or technology-enabled care were included; grey literature and non-peer-reviewed sources were excluded.

Across multiple care models, pharmacist integration in multidisciplinary teams was associated with improved chronic disease indicators (eg, better blood pressure or glycaemic control), fewer medication-related problems, including reports of reduced medication errors (eg, ~45% reduction in rural telepharmacy settings), and reduced avoidable hospitalizations/readmissions in transition-of-care settings. Digital innovations such as clinical decision support and telehealth platforms further enhanced coordination and continuity of care, enabling timely medication optimization and follow-up. Case studies from the UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Australia, India and South Africa selected LMICs illustrate context-adapted and scalable approaches.

When supported by enabling policy frameworks and robust digital infrastructure, multidisciplinary healthcare models offer a powerful solution to many of today's healthcare challenges. Empowering pharmacists, investing in interoperable technologies, and reforming education and reimbursement structures are critical next steps toward resilient, patient-centered healthcare systems.