The results of a 2001 national survey of the ambulatory care responsibilities of pharmacists in managed care organizations (MCOs) and integrated health systems are reported and compared with the results of similar surveys conducted in 1997 and 1999. Three hundred and seventy-six MCOs and integrated health systems participated in the telephone survey. The surveyelicited data about organizational structure and pharmacist functions in the ambulatory care environment. Survey respondents were asked about 24 specific ambulatory care pharmacist functions. The performance of functions was related to five "enabling" factors: pharmacists on interdisciplinary care teams, automated dispensing systems, integrated electronic medical records, very supportive medical staff, and very supportive senior management. Twenty previously measured functions decreased since 1999. Decreases were greatest in negotiating pharmaceutical contracts (-28%), administering immunizations (-27%), and immunization screening (-24%). Enabling factors supported continued expansion. Two clusters of functions, patient-related and population-related activities, were identified and supported differentially by enabling factors. Group-model and staff-model HMOs had the most enabling factors and the broadest scope of pharmacist functions. Independent practice associations had fewer enabling factors and a different mix of functions, with an emphasis on population-focused functions. Ambulatory care functions of pharmacists have expanded to new areas and have decreased in more traditional areas, perhaps because of the current pharmacist shortage and the increase in the number of prescriptions and patients.

 

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. K. Knapp, R. M. Quist, S. M. Walton, and L. M. Miller Update on the pharmacist shortage: National and state data through 2003 Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., March 1, 2005; 62(5): 492 - 499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. K. Knapp, M. P. Okamoto, and B. L. Black ASHP survey of ambulatory care pharmacy practice in health systems--2004 Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., February 1, 2005; 62(3): 274 - 284. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]