HEALTHCARE teamwork including a pharmacist, can reduce the incidence of physician burnout, according to new research out of the University of Minnesota.
Published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, authors highlighted that more than 50% of primary care providers experience burnout, which can lead to increased depression and higher rates of suicide, poor patient outcomes and increases in medical errors.
"In primary care, clinical pharmacists often deliver a service called comprehensive medication management (CMM)," researchers wrote but found that primary care providers believe comprehensive medication management, provided by a pharmacist, "in general, positively affects their work-life".
Primary care physicians spoke of the pharmacist bringing "an added skillset and resource and a collaborative partner in caring for patients. They also described seven outcomes of having CMM available that contribute to their work-life.
"These outcomes were: decreased workload, satisfaction patients are receiving better care, reassurance, decreased mental exhaustion, enhanced professional learning, increased provider access, and achievement of quality measures."
CMM used to be known as medication management services that comprise a spectrum of patient-centered, pharmacist-provided, collaborative services that focus on improving patients' medication and health outcomes.
A common medication management service provided by many pharmacists is medication therapy management but the CMM terminology better reflects the more comprehensive nature of the process.
"CMM is a defined process of care most often provided by a pharmacist and can take place in many settings, including primary care practices."
Lead author and Assistant Professor at the College of Pharmacy, Twin Cities, Kylee Funk, said, "As a medical community, we are very concerned about burnout.
"Our findings are promising for healthcare leaders who are seeking solutions to decrease burnout and improve joy in work.
"It is exciting to identify that working with a pharmacist may offer very important benefits for clinicians."
Access the study at jabfm.org.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 18 Jul 19
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 18 Jul 19
