Impact of the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process on Medication Adherence in Older Adults With Multimorbidity

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the pharmacistled Geriatric Education and Medication Management (GEMM) clinic utilizing the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process (PPCP) improves therapeutic and safety outcomes in ambulatory older adults. DESIGN/PATIENTS: This is a retrospective, case series of veterans newly enrolled into the GEMM clinic from September 2013 to September 2015. SETTING: This study was conducted in an ambulatory pharmacist-led clinic at the Baltimore Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Maryland. INTERVENTION: Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and pharmacy fill data were collected from the computerized patient record system. Medication use patterns were collected using the clinic's supplemental medication reconciliation flowsheet. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Change in adherence rate, number of potentially inappropriate medications, and number of care transitions within the 12-month study period. RESULTS: The primary outcome of medication adherence was high throughout the 12-month study period; beginning at 91.1% at baseline and increasing to 99.0% by the fourth quarter. There was a 36.4% decrease in number of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) from 22 at baseline to 14 at 12 months. Medication-related, short-term care transitions decreased from 10 to 4 in the pre- to post-clinic enrollment time frame. Only one subject experienced a long-term care transition during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing the PPCP in the pharmacist-led GEMM clinic improved medication adherence and persistence, decreased number of PIMs, and assisted in preventing care transitions in ambulatory older adults with multimorbidity and polypharmacy.