Technology Can Help Ease Provider Burnout, Access to Health Care
Cecelia Byers, PharmD
The need for pharmacists to return to a more clinically-focused role became apparent as the COVID-19 pandemic revealed gaps in patient access to care across the country.
We’ve both worked as pharmacists and that means we’ve both spent time trading phone calls and faxes with physicians and patients in order to fill a single prescription. Now, imagine repeating that process dozens of times, if not more, every day for traditional medications. Never mind the twists and turns of the
Regardless of venue, the time pharmacists and prescribers spend on manual processes to help a patient start their medication is burdensome. And it’s among the reasons we are facing an alarming shortage of physicians, as
There is good news is that technology can address the causes of
Time is of the essence for physicians, pharmacists, and patients
The challenges of traditional prescribing are intensified with specialty medications. The detailed clinical information required to fill a specialty prescription means that it can take more than 2 weeks and up to
The administrative workload is likely to increase as
Implementing technology that automates burnout-causing administrative work, such as eliminating phone calls and faxes that pharmacists and physicians would otherwise make each day to
Trusted by their patients, pharmacists deserve a more prominent spot on the care team
Technology changed how we deliver health care for the best. In just 2 decades, we’ve seen what now feels like archaic paper prescriptions transform into more than 2 billion prescriptions delivered electronically each year. In some ways, the technology propelling health care forward is also allowing us to return to providing clinical care close to home—just like community pharmacists did just decades ago.
The need for pharmacists to return to a more clinically-focused role became apparent as the COVID-19 pandemic revealed gaps in patient access to care across the country. Fortunately, the gaps were quickly filled by pharmacists who were authorized to provide vaccinations and do some limited prescribing.
The result? Pharmacists are increasingly viewed as trusted care collaborators and have what it takes to step in:
More than half of licensed pharmacists in the United States today are licensed as a doctor of pharmacy.- In
a survey , 63% of physicians and nurse practitioners agreed that pharmacists will play a larger role in primary care by 2030 and 72% expected to see them regularly included in multidisciplinary teams that collaborate on patient care. - As for patients, 77% agreed that pharmacists are an integral member of the care team.
More than counting to 5, pharmacists can expand patient access to health care
Research shows that
As patients continue turning to their pharmacist for more of their health care needs, technology needs to be in place to support this shift by alleviating administrative burdens in both traditional and
Instead of spending weeks tracking down patient information to obtain prior authorization for specialty medications, technology is supporting specialty pharmacists and retail pharmacists. With improved access to patient-specific information, they are able to find less-costly medications. Pharmacists have become a stronger part of care teams helping patients manage diseases such as diabetes and hypertension and even patients with multiple comorbidities.
With technology that simplifies provider workflows, pharmacists and physicians gain back time to do what they do best—provide more comprehensive care for their patients.
About the Authors
Frank Harvey is CEO of Surescripts.
Cecelia Byers, PharmD, is clinical product advisor for Specialty at Surescripts.
References
- Antwerp GV, Elsner N, Myers G, Bhatt V, Shah S. The pharmacist of the future. Deloitte Insights.
https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/health-care/future-of-pharmacists.html . Published March 11, 2022. Accessed January 24, 2023. - ASHP. Pharmacy Technician Shortage Survey Findings.
https://www.ashp.org/-/media/assets/pharmacy-technician/docs/Technician-Shortage-Survey-Exec-Summary.pdf . Published March 2022. Accessed January 24, 2023. - Berenbrok LA, Tang S, Gabriel N, et al. Access to community pharmacies: A nationwide geographic information systems cross-sectional analysis. JAPhA.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2022.07.003 . Published November 1, 2022. Accessed January 24, 2023. - Berg S. Pandemic pushes U.S. doctor burnout to all-time high of 63%. American Medical Association.
https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/pandemic-pushes-us-doctor-burnout-all-time-high-63 . Published September 15, 2022. Accessed January 24, 2023. - Joseph Moose PDAB. Pharmacists as influencers of patient adherence. Pharmacy Times.
https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/pharmacists-as-influencers-of-patient-adherence- . Published August 21, 2014. Accessed January 24, 2023. - Malakoff S. Spending less time on the specialty Medication Roller Coaster. Surescripts.
https://surescripts.com/news-center/intelligence-in-action/specialty-medications/spending-less-time-on-the-specialty-medication-roller-coaster . Published January 12, 2023. Accessed January 23, 2023. - McHugh J, Elul B, Narayan S. Columbia Public Health. Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.
https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/the_prescription_of_trust_final.pdf . Accessed January 24, 2023. - Sinsky CA, Brown RL, Stillman MJ, Linzer M. Covid-related stress and work intentions in a sample of US Health Care Workers. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes.
https://www.mcpiqojournal.org/article/S2542-4548(21)00126-0/fulltext#secsectitle0010 . Published December 8, 2021. Accessed January 23, 2023. - Specialty medications. Surescripts.
https://surescripts.com/enhance-prescribing/specialty-medications . Accessed January 24, 2023. - Surescripts. Specialty medication experience: Obstacles & opportunities. Surescripts.
https://surescripts.com/lp/specialty-medications-data-brief-2022 . Accessed January 24, 2023. - The use of medicines in the U.S. IQVIA.
https://www.iqvia.com/insights/the-iqvia-institute/reports/the-use-of-medicines-in-the-us . Published May 27, 2021. Accessed January 24, 2023.
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