Improving Quality at the Pharmacy Level

Quality-driven goals allow pharmacies to showcase the abilities they have part and parcel to their job.

In this video, Sam Stolpe, PharmD, senior director of Quality Strategies and Business Development at Pharmacy Quality Alliance, talks about areas in which pharmacists can shine, especially with medication adherence.

The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Part C and Part D star ratings include 3 measures of adherence, which Dr. Stolpe calls a “sweet spot for pharmacists” due to their closeness with patients.

Pharmacists can also assist with safe and appropriate use of medications, especially with high-risk medications in the elderly, Dr. Stolpe noted. For example, a pharmacist can flag inappropriate medications and draw them to the attention of prescribers, which can lead to better prescribing practices.