Baseline description of seven pharmacies involved in evaluation of a new practice model

Abstract

Objective: The object of this study was to describe characteristics of seven Midwestern retail pharmacies before implementation of a new practice model. These baseline characteristics will be used in evaluating the impact of a Tech-Check-Tech program in com- munity pharmacies in Iowa on patient safety measures, in facilitating the provision of pharmacist-provided medication therapy management (MTM), and on workplace satisfaction for pharmacy technicians and pharmacists in subsequent research. Methods: Seven retail pharmacies were recruited to participate in a state board of pharmacy-approved demonstration project. Baseline measurements of dispensing errors were determined for 50 refills per day for 15 weekdays before initiation of Tech-Check-Tech for refilled prescriptions. Baseline measurements were performed to define the task composition of the pharmacists' workday and measure the amount of pharmacistprovided MTM services at the participating pharmacies. Participating pharmacies manually recorded information, which was then submitted via an online survey. Measures of pharmacy technician and pharmacist workplace satisfaction were measured with previously validated measures by an online survey.comparisons were made between technicians and pharmacists on workplace satisfaction measures using t tests. Results: Data collection showed 5,565 refill prescriptions filled using standard methods were then checked again by another pharmacist or specially trained technician and 15 dispensing errors were found (0.2695%) before the prescription medications were given to patients. Pharmacists reported spending 67.3% of their time in dispensing, 15.95% in patient care, 9.2% in management activities, 3.5% in practice development, and 4.1% in other activities. Pharmacists reported providing 9.59 non-reimbursed and 0.2804 reimbursed patient care services per pharmacist hour. No differences were found between technicians and pharmacists on six measures of workplace satisfaction. Conclusion: The primary implications of the research were to describe baseline characteristics of the pharmacies before the implementation of a new practice model. Subsequent reports will document the effects of model implementation on these measures.