Impact of Pre-Visit Medication History Phone Calls on Patient Rooming Time in the Ambulatory Cardiology Clinic: Pilot Project
by Courtney Dawson, PharmD, MBA, MPH, BCPS, Danielle Firkus, PharmD, BCPS, Michelle Brodin, PharmD, BCPS, Richard Arndt, PharmD, MHA, BCPS
Abstract:
Purpose: This project evaluates the impact of pre-visit medication history phone calls by pharmacy technicians on patient rooming time in an ambulatory cardiology clinic.
Methods: A pilot was conducted in one department at a regional health system. Patients with upcoming appointments were contacted by a pharmacy technician one to two days prior. The technician reconciled home medication lists, updated allergy information, assessed medication compliance and affordability, and conducted beta-lactam allergy assessments. A clinical pharmacist reviewed each encounter. A control group was used for comparison. The primary outcome was the difference in average rooming time, defined as time spent in "Chart Review," "History," or "Rooming" in the electronic health record. Secondary outcomes included the number of medication changes, beta-lactam allergy assessments conducted, and identification of compliance or affordability issues.
Results: The pilot group (37 patients) had a shorter average rooming time than the control group (40 patients) (4.72 minutes vs. 5.29 minutes, p = 0.23). The average number of medications per patient was 10.8 (range 3-31, Q1 7.0, Q3 14.0, IQR 7.0). Six patients had medications added and 24 had medications removed. Eight patients had beta-lactam allergies assessed. No patients reported affordability issues, and one reported compliance issues.
Conclusion: Pre-visit medication history phone calls by pharmacy technicians reduced average rooming time and provided updated medication lists in an ambulatory cardiology clinic, potentially improving patient care and provider efficiency by ensuring accurate medication information and proactively identifying potential medication issues.
Keywords: Cardiology, medication history, medication reconciliation, pharmacy technician, ambulatory pharmacy
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2024 November/December Table of Contents
Abstract:
Purpose: This project evaluates the impact of pre-visit medication history phone calls by pharmacy technicians on patient rooming time in an ambulatory cardiology clinic.
Methods: A pilot was conducted in one department at a regional health system. Patients with upcoming appointments were contacted by a pharmacy technician one to two days prior. The technician reconciled home medication lists, updated allergy information, assessed medication compliance and affordability, and conducted beta-lactam allergy assessments. A clinical pharmacist reviewed each encounter. A control group was used for comparison. The primary outcome was the difference in average rooming time, defined as time spent in "Chart Review," "History," or "Rooming" in the electronic health record. Secondary outcomes included the number of medication changes, beta-lactam allergy assessments conducted, and identification of compliance or affordability issues.
Results: The pilot group (37 patients) had a shorter average rooming time than the control group (40 patients) (4.72 minutes vs. 5.29 minutes, p = 0.23). The average number of medications per patient was 10.8 (range 3-31, Q1 7.0, Q3 14.0, IQR 7.0). Six patients had medications added and 24 had medications removed. Eight patients had beta-lactam allergies assessed. No patients reported affordability issues, and one reported compliance issues.
Conclusion: Pre-visit medication history phone calls by pharmacy technicians reduced average rooming time and provided updated medication lists in an ambulatory cardiology clinic, potentially improving patient care and provider efficiency by ensuring accurate medication information and proactively identifying potential medication issues.
Keywords: Cardiology, medication history, medication reconciliation, pharmacy technician, ambulatory pharmacy
Download PDF
2024 November/December Table of Contents