Medication therapy management: Timothy Ulbrich at TEDxUniversityatBuffalo

Summary

This speech highlights the critical yet often underappreciated role of pharmacists in improving healthcare. It emphasizes the rising costs, inefficiencies, and communication issues in the healthcare system, proposing that pharmacists can help solve these problems through services like medication checkups. By working directly with patients, pharmacists can ensure appropriate medication use, improve adherence, and reduce costs. The speaker advocates for leveraging pharmacists' accessibility and expertise to provide personalized care, reduce healthcare spending, and address chronic health issues effectively, ultimately showcasing the vast potential of this healthcare workforce.

Takeaways

• 😀 The healthcare system is facing challenges such as unsustainable spending and inadequate quality, but local pharmacists are a solution with a significant return on investment.
• 😀 Pharmacists' roles have evolved beyond filling prescriptions; they now play an active role in managing chronic illnesses, providing immunizations, and improving transitions of care.
• 😀 Local pharmacists are highly accessible healthcare providers, with the equivalent of the entire US population visiting pharmacies weekly.
• 😀 The US is facing a shortage of primary care physicians, making pharmacists even more vital in supporting patient care.
• 😀 Pharmacists now provide personalized care, ensuring medications are safe, effective, and affordable, tailored to individual patient needs.
• 😀 The healthcare system is plagued by excessive and inappropriate medication use, poor adherence to prescriptions, and poor communication among healthcare providers and patients.
• 😀 Over 10% of Americans take more than five medications regularly, leading to increased potential for drug interactions and healthcare costs.
• 😀 50% of patients with chronic illnesses are not taking their prescribed medications, often due to factors like cost, access, and side effects.
• 😀 Communication issues, both between providers and between providers and patients, result in worse patient care and higher healthcare costs.
• 😀 Pharmacists can resolve many of these issues through services like medication checkups, identifying the most effective and affordable treatments for patients.
• 😀 Evidence shows that for every $1 spent on clinical pharmacy services, $10 is returned, highlighting the potential for pharmacists to improve patient care while saving costs.

Q & A

What is the main issue with the current healthcare system as described in the script?

The script highlights that the healthcare system is messy, with unsustainable spending and poor quality. A significant issue is the over-reliance on prescription medications without addressing the root causes of health problems.

How is the role of pharmacists changing in today's healthcare system?

Pharmacists are no longer just dispensing medications. They are involved in patient care, providing immunizations, addressing chronic illnesses, collaborating with physicians, and managing transitions of care. They play a crucial role in improving patient health and managing healthcare costs.

What is the 'perfect storm' affecting the healthcare system?

The perfect storm refers to three main issues: excessive and inappropriate medication use, poor medication adherence, and poor communication between healthcare providers and patients.

How has medication use changed over time, according to the script?

From 1999 to 2009, there was a 36% increase in the number of prescriptions dispensed in the U.S., while the population grew by only 9%. This reflects a growing dependence on medications to address health issues.

Why is poor medication adherence a major problem in healthcare?

Poor adherence occurs when patients with chronic illnesses do not take their medications as prescribed. This issue affects 50% of patients with chronic conditions, leading to worse health outcomes and higher healthcare costs.

What are some reasons patients do not take their medications as prescribed?

Patients may not adhere to their prescriptions due to issues like cost, access, transportation, side effects, or lack of understanding of the severity of their condition.

What communication problems exist between healthcare providers?

Communication is often poor between providers, especially when patients see multiple specialists. This can lead to a lack of coordination and negatively impact patient care.

How can a pharmacist help improve medication management?

Pharmacists can provide a medication checkup service, where they review all the medications a patient is taking, assess their appropriateness, suggest alternatives if needed, and ensure safe usage. This service can improve adherence, reduce drug interactions, and save money.

Can you give an example of how a medication checkup service works?

In the case of Steve, a 59-year-old man, a pharmacist identified that he was cutting an expensive cholesterol medication in half to save money. After reviewing his lab work, the pharmacist recommended a cheaper generic alternative, improving his health and reducing costs.

What is the evidence supporting the role of pharmacists in healthcare?

The 2011 Surgeon General's report found that for every $1 spent on clinical pharmacy services, approximately $10 is returned in improved health outcomes and cost savings. This highlights the value pharmacists bring to the healthcare system.