According to Matthew Meyer, PharmD, owner and pharmacist-in-charge at the Hospital Pharmacy West, during a presentation at the National Community Pharmacists Association 2022 Annual Convention, pharmacies are well-positioned to grow their point-of-care testing (POCT) niche in today's consumer market due to the rise of high-deductible health plans and the public's desire for convenient, accessible health care. POCT, which makes use of a medical device to diagnose or test for a specific condition or sickness, can help deliver results that can be put into practice much more quickly than would otherwise be possible. '[POCT in the pharmacy] is unique in that it is delivered close to or at the site of care and you have actionable results in minutes,' Meyer added. POCT was started for four main reasons: to identify disease, increase access to care, track various disease-state metrics, and alter patient behavior in some way.Additionally, Meyer highlighted that the value proposition for POCT at the pharmacy is wide.
For patients, pharmacies are practical, accessible, and economical. These advantages may also enable patients to obtain diagnoses earlier in a setting where they may pick up their medications after receiving a diagnosis, all in the same place. According to Meyer, the lack of physicians has made it difficult for patients to get the care they need, which has led to screening delays and other issues. Due to their staffing issues, these issues make pharmacies even more beneficial in reducing some of the strain on doctors and emergency rooms.The nation now experiences a physician shortage, and Meyer claimed that there are no signs that this situation would soon improve. Would you rather wait 20 to 30 minutes in a doctor's office for a room to open, then get called back and wait 10 minutes there before seeing your provider for 3 minutes, then go to the lab to have your blood drawn, and then wait for a different doctor to call in your prescription? At the pharmacy, this process is shortened significantly, Meyer explained.“You can see your pharmacist in the first 5 minutes of being there, and then get your results and go on with your day,” Meyer said.In addition, there are several problems in the healthcare sector that pharmacists are particularly suited to solve by playing a bigger position in patient care, like the proper use of antibiotics. Pharmacists can utilize POCT to assess whether antibiotics are truly the best treatment for a patient's illness in pharmacies that practice antibacterial stewardship. Also, pharmacists most frequently keep a thorough record of each patient's drug usage, which enables them to advise and educate patients on the full range of their pharmaceutical regimen and any potential interactions they might encounter. Also, pharmacists can emphasize to patients the value of sharing their knowledge of unfavorable outcomes (AEs), which will enable pharmacists to take the required steps to assist patients when AEs occur. The effectiveness of POCT implementation at a pharmacy depends in part on a number of critical partnerships, according to Meyer, including those with state associations, doctors, and pharmacy wholesalers. Also, it can be beneficial to establish relationships with nearby companies, such as assisted living and long-term care facilities, which can greatly benefit from a pharmacy providing POCT services.Meyer further mentioned that pharmacy wholesalers can provide pharmacies with initial policies and procedures for every test that is ordered, detailing the necessary paperwork and personal protective equipment. In order for pharmacy employees to become knowledgeable about operating the analyzers and preparing samples for collection, pharmacy wholesalers can also give them access to educational and training materials. In order to assist pharmacies in informing local community providers about their new service offerings, wholesalers can also give outreach forms.According to Meyer, physician cooperation is also crucial for the effectiveness of POCT in the pharmacy. There are restrictions in this field, though, as the laws of the pharmacist's jurisdiction will determine how much they can work with a doctor. Additionally, state regulations will also specify whether or not pharmacists have prescriptive authority to order testing or whether they need a collaborative practice agreement for ordering tests and for commencing therapy.Depending on the state you're currently practicing in, your primary pharmacy wholesaler may be able to help if you're just starting out. They might already have a doctor who agrees to work with them, or they might help with physician outreach to discover doctors who might be interested in pharma practice agreements, according to Meyer. Additionally, get in touch with the board of pharmacy to evaluate the laws in your state to see if you need a pharma practice agreement or if you have that prescriptive ability. Moreover, Meyer added that the success of POCT in any pharmacy depends heavily on patient referrals.You will eventually require those patient recommendations if you truly want to launch your POCT program and create a profitable service, Meyer added. It takes time to build that, and the quickest way to earn those patient referrals is to consistently provide a dependable, consistent product.
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