Framework and recommendations to support bidirectional information sharing between community pharmacies and other health care settings

Abstract

Community pharmacies are one of the most accessible locations for patients to seek health care. Services have advanced beyond prescription dispensing. Community pharmacists' access to patient health information in electronic health records (EHRs) is necessary to ensure safe and effective use of medications. The current limitation in access may result in patient safety issues, negatively affect the optimal provision of patient care, and hinder the expansion of services. Full community pharmacy read–write access to EHRs is optimal for achieving the ultimate goal of integrating community pharmacists with the health care team. The coordination and transformation will occur in a complex environment, and as such, a systematic approach is advised. A change management framework, such as the one proposed by J. P. Kotter in the landmark book Leading Change, is presented in this paper as a resource to facilitate this needed transformation in practice. Specific recommendations for ACCP to operationalize this framework through the College's activities include establishing a guiding coalition to articulate the ideal framework for bidirectional sharing of patient health information across the health care system, including between community pharmacies and other health service locations; facilitating the establishment of a workgroup to identify and outline collaborative, tangible steps; engaging with interprofessional EHR working groups at a national level to identify barriers and facilitate EHR integration; and considering (through the Foundation) funding opportunities for demonstration projects that accelerate integration. Further recommendations are related to professional development at professional meetings and in various formats and to regulatory change to establish relationships with EHR vendors and others in the industry to identify ways to overcome barriers to information sharing. ACCP's continued focus on meaningful connectivity for information sharing and resource allocation to address existing barriers identified through the pursuit of these recommendations has the potential to shape the future of pharmacy practice.