From MTM to Full-Service Care: Evolving Clinical Pharmacy Solutions

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Just a few decades ago, the role of the pharmacy in providing patient care was obvious. The pharmacist dispensed medications. Other healthcare providers covered all of the patient’s additional needs. Now, the situation is a little more complicated.

With pharmacies across the country facing declining revenue, many of them have been finding ways to expand services to make up the difference, often with the help of a clinical services platform. This article will evaluate some of the ways that the role of the pharmacy in providing comprehensive patient healthcare is changing and expanding.

Medication Therapy Management

In the past, the pharmacist’s traditional role was to dispense medications and answer patients’ questions about them. Medication therapy management (MTM) has become a popular adjunct offering. Medication therapy management involves a broad range of activities falling within the pharmacist’s scope of practice with the end goal of providing optimal therapeutic outcomes for patients.

MTM involves more than just evaluating med lists. Pharmacists who practice MTM begin with an assessment of the patient’s overall health status before formulating a medication treatment plan and administering the medication therapy. As time passes, the pharmacist continues to monitor and evaluate responses to the therapy and make adjustments as needed. 

Comprehensive medication reviews are a core part of MTM as they identify and resolve or prevent medication-related issues. However, the pharmacists who practice MTM also provide direct verbal education to patients and maintain communication with their other primary care providers to coordinate services. Offering MTM is a good way to expand services and draw in new patients or increase the lifetime value of returning ones.

On-Site Immunizations

Gone are the days when 100% of immunizations took place in the doctor’s office. In the 1990s, only nine states allowed pharmacists to administer immunizations. Now, it’s a common practice, and evidence shows that it’s of great benefit to patients. Pharmacist-administered immunizations expand access to a necessary healthcare service and make it easier for patients to get the care they need in a convenient location.

Offering immunization services is a solid move in the direction of providing full-service care. Patients already visiting the pharmacy to pick up medications and engage with MTM services can be encouraged to get vaccinated on-site and receive reminders when it’s time to get routine vaccines, generating added revenue for the pharmacy and improving patient health outcomes.

Telepharmacy Services

Telepharmacy services are an even more recent innovation than in-pharmacy immunizations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth became normalized across the care spectrum, including at pharmacies. Patients who live in rural or underserved areas stand to gain considerably from the introduction of telepharmacy services, as they would otherwise face significant barriers to medication management.

Patients who struggle with mobility issues or inadequate transportation are also more likely to take advantage of telepharmacy services when they’re offered. Pharmacies that offer online visits can ensure the continuity of patients’ care and conduct regular check-ins to help manage chronic conditions more efficiently and effectively.

The Changing Role of the Pharmacist

Undoubtedly, the pharmacist’s role in providing patient care has been expanding in recent years. Now, the best way for independent pharmacies to increase their profit margins is to begin offering a wider array of services. From MTM to full-service care, pharmacists can play a more active role in their patients’ lives and in maintaining their health.