Medication Adherence- The Basic 4 Steps to Include
Prescription filling has become easier for patients thanks to retail pharmacies, both independent and chains. Pharmacies have initiated some medication synchronization program which are based on appointment, 90 day fill programs, and mail systems in response to patients' growing expectations of a hassle-free medication delivery.
Pharmacies hope that by fulfilling these new expectations, they will be able ensure the medication adherence, and revenue related to prescription and other associated things. This can be done with physician dispensing solutions if the process is implemented correctly.
Unintended consequences of making it easier for patients to receive the medications include an increase in nonadherence by some patients. Med sync, 90-day refills, and home delivery are all examples of consumer-driven amenities that may result in fewer patients go to the pharmacy and fewer conversations between pharmacists and patients.
Some patients may be less inclined to take their medications as directed if they don't have access to in-person consultations. Transportation, cost, side effects, other issues related to clinical value, execution and proper usage. In order to overcome these barriers, this subgroup of patients depends on the personal conversation with staff of the pharmacy and the pharmacists.
Pharmacy stores must make prescription filling easy and hassle-free for all patients without compromising medication adherence.
PD-RX Pharmaceutical experts say implementing technology to understand patients at risk for nonadherence is the answer to the challenge. Using data-driven insights, retail pharmacies can create personalized clinical programs that reduce the risk. They can also take advantage of the pharmacy's other convenient prescription filling and refill programs.
As outlined by pharmacy experts at PD-RX Pharmaceuticals, there are essentially four steps involved.
The pharmacy must finalize the chronic medical conditions it wants to target in order to prevent nonadherence from occurring. Using their pharmacy management systems, they should determine which types of prescription drugs offer the greatest potential for both revenue opportunities and medication adherence improvement. Diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol are likely to be the top three choices for most pharmacies. A Medicare Advantage plan's star rating is based on its adherence to these three medication categories.
As a general rule, most pharmacies define compliance as the percentage of days that a prescription drug is taken. Adherent is defined as a patient who has a supply of medication that is able to cover 80% of the medicines he or she is supposed to be taking the medication. Patients who are moderately adherent typically have a 60 to 80 percent supply of the drug. Without adherence, the patient's medication supply is often at or below 60%.
Patients who are relatively adherent to their prescription drugs should be identified using pharmacy management systems. Meaning they have covered a huge number of prescriptions over a certain period of time (usually six to twelve months) for them to receive 60 percent to 80 percent of the diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol medication prescribed to them. Pharmacies should create medication profiles for discreetly adherent patients in a database using data from pharmacy management systems, patients' medication histories, and other sources of information.
Use various technologies to create detailed profiles of each adherent patient. Medications histories, drug needs, and usage/adherence behaviors should all be included in the profiles. They can track the levels of adherence and make some clinical programs to understand individual patients' medication needs and conditions with actionable information at their fingertips.
If you wish to include physician dispensing solution in your business, book your schedule with PD-RX Pharmaceuticals in OKC.
**Disclaimer: The information on this page is not intended to be a doctor's advice, nor does it create any form of patient-doctor relationship.