BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Jan. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New research
released today by Columbia University
Mailman School of Public Health and Express Scripts®
Pharmacy, an Evernorth company, reveals that amid growing provider
shortages, pharmacists in the U.S. are well-trusted by patients and
projected to play an increasingly integral role in care
management.
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The Prescription of Trust report, which surveyed more than 3,000
patients, 1,000 pharmacists, and 500 providers (including
physicians and nurse practitioners), was designed to more deeply
understand the expanding role of pharmacists in transforming
patient care. It is the largest study of its kind ever conducted
and is the first to include the voice of patients.
"The results of the report are clear. Most people trust
pharmacists to play a greater role in providing their care. As the
shortage of doctors and nurses persists, and as complex new
therapies and digital health care technology solutions are
developed, the role of the pharmacist will continue to evolve,"
said John McHugh, MBA, PhD, an
assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and
Management at Columbia University
Mailman School of Public Health.
Key findings of the survey, conducted from November to
December 2021, include:
Pharmacists Will Expand Responsibilities: Looking toward
the field of pharmacy in 2030, a majority of pharmacists see a
transition from transactional care to more direct patient care
responsibilities.
At the forefront of this trend are pharmacists in ambulatory
clinics, health systems (hospitals) and home delivery pharmacies,
who already often serve as specialists advising patients with
specific diseases or interact with a larger health team to help
manage complex patient care.
Providers, Patients Trust Pharmacists: Nearly 80 percent
of patients said they see pharmacists as an integral part of their
health care team.
Providers reported a high level of trust, often exceeding 90
percent, in pharmacists' current professional activities, including
dispensing medications, communicating with health professionals and
patients about potential adverse drug interactions, counseling
patients on their medications, and administering vaccines. Notably,
providers who collaborate with pharmacists have increasing trust in
pharmacists providing direct patient care and prescribing
medications.
Advanced Care Requires Advanced
Training: Pharmacists recognize that patients need more
consistent clinical counseling and disease education, but say
training will be a focus in key areas to fill gaps in patient care.
More than half (53.3%) of pharmacists agreed their current training
and education is sufficient to manage patients. However,
pharmacists did identify opportunities for additional training in
chronic disease education, diagnosing, and prescribing.
As Roles Evolve, So Does Patient Engagement: The study
shows that nearly half (49.7%) of patients would find it very
helpful to have routine testing and medical visits done from home.
More than half of home delivery pharmacists, like those at Express
Scripts® Pharmacy, report engaging more with patients
via telepharmacy, while about 15 percent of retail pharmacists
report using telepharmacy. Of pharmacists who use this technology,
more than a third say it gives them more time to interact with
patients, allowing them to provide crucial information and support
when – and where – patients need it
most.
"While the role of pharmacists has been expanding in some areas
of health care, the COVID pandemic has spotlighted their
accessibility and the trust people have in them as health care
professionals," said Susan Peppers,
RPh, vice president of Express Scripts Pharmacy, one of the
nation's largest and most experienced home delivery pharmacies that
fills 281 million prescriptions every year. "Beyond dispensing
prescription medications and providing medication advice, many of
our 1,000 Express Scripts Pharmacy pharmacists are already
specially trained in specific diseases allowing them to discuss
disease and medication management directly with a patient as well
as in conjunction with their health care provider team. The
Prescription of Trust report confirms that the model of care we
have in place at Express Scripts Pharmacy is set to support
patients into the future of pharmacy."
Today, America's pharmacists are beginning to expand their roles
in the health care continuum with wellness screenings, telepharmacy
counseling, providing diagnosis for acute conditions and
prescribing medications to treat them.
"As we look at the emerging forces shaping the future of health
care, it is clear that accelerated pharmacological innovation and
expanded pharmacy services are two of the most fundamental driving
forces," said Eric Palmer, CEO of
Evernorth. "We continue to advance our pharmacy offerings and
provide specialized training for our on-staff pharmacists to
support patients with state-of-art care, now and into the
future."
An executive summary of The Prescription of Trust report can be
found here.
(For a copy of the full report, please click here.)
About Evernorth
Evernorth creates and connects premier health services
offerings, including benefits management, pharmacy, care solutions,
insights and intelligence. With an open approach to partnering
across the health care landscape, we deliver innovative and
flexible solutions for health plans, employers and government
programs. Evernorth capabilities are powered by our family of
companies, including Express Scripts, Express Scripts®
Pharmacy, Accredo, eviCore and MDLIVE, along with holistic
Evernorth platforms and solutions that elevate health and drive
progress for people and businesses. All Evernorth solutions are
serviced and provided by or through operating affiliates of
Evernorth Health, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cigna Corporation,
or third-party partners. Learn more at Evernorth.com.
About Columbia University Mailman
School of Public Health
Founded in 1922, the Columbia
University Mailman School of Public Health pursues an agenda
of research, education, and service to address the critical
and complex public health issues affecting New Yorkers, the nation
and the world. The Columbia Mailman School is the
fourth largest recipient of NIH grants among schools of public
health. Its nearly 300 multi-disciplinary faculty members work
in more than 100 countries around the world, addressing such issues
as preventing infectious and chronic diseases, environmental
health, maternal and child health, health
policy, climate change and health, and public health
preparedness. It is a leader in public health education
with more than 1,300 graduate students from 55 nations
pursuing a variety of master's and doctoral degree programs. The
Columbia Mailman School is also home to numerous world-renowned
research centers, including ICAP and the Center for Infection and
Immunity. For more information, please
visit www.mailman.columbia.edu.
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SOURCE Express Scripts Pharmacy