Pharmacists and Medication Adherence: Brief Interventions, Motivational Interviewing and Telepharmacy

"Medication is too costly." "Medication will do more harm than good." "Medication is not needed." These three misconceptions are at the heart of medication non-adherence, says the director of the program evaluation research unit (PERU) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy --- misconceptions that pharmacists can help to clear up. This industry expert, who was recently named one of 73 Innovations Advisors by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is one of three contributors to this new resource. This 50-page resource describes a number of interventions in which pharmacists help to guide patients and health plan members to higher levels of medication adherence --- programs that take place in the pharmacy, in the physician practice, or virtually. It also answers more than 30 questions on the role of the pharmacist in reducing non-adherence. In the first intervention, community pharmacists apply the principles of motivational interviewing to screen customers for risk of non-adherence. The University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy expert outlines an innovative pilot in which Highmark, the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, and Rite Aid pharmacies train pharmacists to use motivational interviewing techniques with patients at risk of medication non-adherence. This report also explores the rationale for placing pharmacists in the patient-centered medical home. The senior director of clinical pharmacy services and quality for Kaiser Permanente Colorado sketches out the roles of the physician practice staff and pharmacist in medication management, the use of technology and key financial incentives and reimbursement strategies that can improve payoffs from medication compliance. And finally, the chief medical officer for Silverlink Communications, Inc. offers a team-based model for medication adherence improvement that places the pharmacist squarely on the care team. Don't wait to order your organization's copy of this resource and begin reducing healthcare utilization costs associated with medication non-compliance. Table of Contents: * Connecting the Community Pharmacist to Medication Adherence Interventions; * Medication Therapy Management in the Patient-Centered Medical Home; * Achieving Medication and Care Plan Adherence through an Integrated Care Team; * Q&A: Ask the Experts; * Glossary; * For More Information; * About the Presenters.