Patients will enjoy greater access to pharmacist-provided health and wellness services as a result of rules now in effect in Wisconsin, the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin (PSW) and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) said today.
The rules, advanced by Wisconsin’s Pharmacy Examining Board, will allow pharmacists more time in their day to counsel patients on their medications, provide vaccinations, screen for illnesses such as flu and strep throat, and help patients manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. The rules accomplish this by improving pharmacists’ ability to delegate more tasks to other pharmacy staff, including pharmacy technicians.
The rules are validated by extensive research, including qualitative research published in March 2019 by the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association that involved the collaboration of PSW, NACDS, and other pharmacy organizations. The article related to that research stated:
The most salient impact of the team-based task delegation was its effect on patient care and the mindset of pharmacy personnel on their approach to providing care for their patients. Specific effects were increased pharmacist-patient interaction time, increased delivery of clinical services, decreased wait times, and improved overall efficiency in medication distribution service. The use of this model, which moves pharmacists from a product-centered to a patient-centered role, is timely because demand increasingly exists for quality convenient care services in the community pharmacy. Pharmacists indicate a propensity toward delivering such services, and patients desire more time with their pharmacists. Similarly, a trend toward improved patient satisfaction also follows task delegation and has been noted in the medical literature.
The rule will build on an NACDS-supported demonstration pilot in Wisconsin to broadly permit pharmacy technicians to perform “product verification” – a process that engages pharmacy technicians in confirming the accuracy of the product that is being dispensed, while pharmacists maintain responsibility of all aspects of dispensing which require clinical skill or judgement. Research shows that such processes maintain the reliability of prescription accuracy while empowering pharmacists to assist patients with additional clinical services.
NACDS has created an Optimizing Care microsite that provides access to extensive research, implementation resources, and training materials. NACDS’ portal includes PSW resources, including its Technician Product Verification Implementation Toolkit and its Technician Product Verification Didactic Training.
Sarah Sorum, Interim CEO of PSW, said, “These new rules will advance the care available to patients throughout Wisconsin, including chronic care and acute care. They reduce barriers that have stood in the way of improvements to patient outcomes. Pharmacists and pharmacy personnel look forward to doing even more to improve the health and wellness of patients.”
Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, president & CEO of NACDS, said, “NACDS appreciates the collaboration of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin in the research, training, and advocacy that have led to this important advancement for patients in Wisconsin. PSW’s work means a great deal here, and it also will contribute leadership for similar advancements across the nation.”
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The Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin is the state professional society representing pharmacists and pharmacy practices. With over 4,500 members, PSW is one of the nation’s largest state-based pharmacy organizations. At PSW we believe that together we can inspire professional success with the singular purpose of enhancing the lives of patients. http://www.pswi.org
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) represents traditional drug stores, supermarkets and mass merchants with pharmacies. Chains operate nearly 40,000 pharmacies, and NACDS’ 80 chain member companies include regional chains, with a minimum of four stores, and national companies. Chains employ nearly 3 million individuals, including 155,000 pharmacists. They fill over 3 billion prescriptions yearly, and help patients use medicines correctly and safely, while offering innovative services that improve patient health and healthcare affordability.
