letter to the editor
Pharmacists, Nurses, and the Interdisciplinary Team
I
am writing in response to Dr. Barbara Resnick’s article in the March 2014 issue of The Consultant Pharmacist (Consult Pharm 2014:29:149-53). Dr. Resnick makes a solid case for moving out of professional silos and working as an interdisciplinary health care team. As I look at changes in health care delivery across all care settings, it is clear that there will be a major shift toward preventive care, health and wellness, collaborative and team-based care, care coordination, and measured clinical outcomes. Provider accountability and patient outcomes will drive payment systems. Some of these changes will likely impact consultant pharmacy practice in skilled nursing facilities. Dr. Resnick provides a list of consultant pharmacist activities that are appreciated by advanced practice nurses, but she also provides criticism of some consultant pharmacists who do not engage with other team members. I hope that these criticisms reflect a small minority of practicing consultant pharmacists. In today’s health care environment, patient-center care is forefront, and what is in the best interest of the patient is critical. Quality care of older adults with multiple chronic diseases can only be achieved by a well-coordinated team approach. Dr. Resnick identifies possible opportunities for expanding pharmacists’ practices in long-term care, and I concur with her that pharmacists must become active members of the interdisciplinary team. New opportunities for pharmacists in post-acute care and care transitions are growing. Dr. Resnick accurately points out the lack of payment systems is a barrier. To overcome this barrier, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) is working diligently with other pharmacy organizations to recognize pharmacists as health care providers under the Social Security Act. Dr. Resnick also talks about students from different health care disciplines taking classes together. Taking traditional lecture-based classroom courses together will not teach students to work in a team environment. There is
a rapidly developing movement across the country to provide students from all health care professions opportunities to learn and work in teams in the hopes that when these students enter practice they will understand the roles of their colleagues from the other professions, and they will know how to work collaboratively. This will be essential for the evolving health care delivery systems. Particularly in geriatrics and long-term care, pharmacists must be part of the team, especially in caring for older adults with multiple comorbidities. Their medication regimens are complex, often difficult to manage, and the pharmacist is the best professional to deal with these types of issues. Although Dr. Resnick makes some provocative comments, which some readers might dispute, she does open a dialog between pharmacists and advance practice nurses, a dialogue in which we should engage. How well do consultant pharmacists fit into emerging models of health care? Is the patient at the center of your practice? I do like Dr. Resnick’s idea of working together to expand the scope of practice for our professions. ASCP leadership is having conversations with other geriatricfocused organizations to identify ways in which all disciplines can work collaboratively to improve practice and patient care. In my conversations with geriatricians, advanced practice nurses, and social workers, I hear from all of them that they value a pharmacist on the interdisciplinary team. Our profession’s future is very bright, with new practice opportunities quickly emerging. ASCP currently has a task force looking at some of these new opportunities and will be recommending educational activities to help members be well prepared for these new practice endeavors. This year’s ASCP leadership plan focuses on embracing change and expanding practice opportunities, which resonate well with some of Dr. Resnick’s ideas. Jeffrey C. Delafuente, MS, FCCP, FASCP President American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
Editor’s note: Dr. Resnick was provided with a copy of
Dr. Delafuente’s letter and did not feel that a response was necessary, as she was in agreement with his comments.
Doi:10.4140/TCP.n.2014.222. 222
The Consultant Pharmacist april 2014 Vol. 29, No. 4
Pharmacists, Nurses, and the Interdisciplinary Team
I
am writing in response to Dr. Barbara Resnick’s article in the March 2014 issue of The Consultant Pharmacist (Consult Pharm 2014:29:149-53). Dr. Resnick makes a solid case for moving out of professional silos and working as an interdisciplinary health care team. As I look at changes in health care delivery across all care settings, it is clear that there will be a major shift toward preventive care, health and wellness, collaborative and team-based care, care coordination, and measured clinical outcomes. Provider accountability and patient outcomes will drive payment systems. Some of these changes will likely impact consultant pharmacy practice in skilled nursing facilities. Dr. Resnick provides a list of consultant pharmacist activities that are appreciated by advanced practice nurses, but she also provides criticism of some consultant pharmacists who do not engage with other team members. I hope that these criticisms reflect a small minority of practicing consultant pharmacists. In today’s health care environment, patient-center care is forefront, and what is in the best interest of the patient is critical. Quality care of older adults with multiple chronic diseases can only be achieved by a well-coordinated team approach. Dr. Resnick identifies possible opportunities for expanding pharmacists’ practices in long-term care, and I concur with her that pharmacists must become active members of the interdisciplinary team. New opportunities for pharmacists in post-acute care and care transitions are growing. Dr. Resnick accurately points out the lack of payment systems is a barrier. To overcome this barrier, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) is working diligently with other pharmacy organizations to recognize pharmacists as health care providers under the Social Security Act. Dr. Resnick also talks about students from different health care disciplines taking classes together. Taking traditional lecture-based classroom courses together will not teach students to work in a team environment. There is
a rapidly developing movement across the country to provide students from all health care professions opportunities to learn and work in teams in the hopes that when these students enter practice they will understand the roles of their colleagues from the other professions, and they will know how to work collaboratively. This will be essential for the evolving health care delivery systems. Particularly in geriatrics and long-term care, pharmacists must be part of the team, especially in caring for older adults with multiple comorbidities. Their medication regimens are complex, often difficult to manage, and the pharmacist is the best professional to deal with these types of issues. Although Dr. Resnick makes some provocative comments, which some readers might dispute, she does open a dialog between pharmacists and advance practice nurses, a dialogue in which we should engage. How well do consultant pharmacists fit into emerging models of health care? Is the patient at the center of your practice? I do like Dr. Resnick’s idea of working together to expand the scope of practice for our professions. ASCP leadership is having conversations with other geriatricfocused organizations to identify ways in which all disciplines can work collaboratively to improve practice and patient care. In my conversations with geriatricians, advanced practice nurses, and social workers, I hear from all of them that they value a pharmacist on the interdisciplinary team. Our profession’s future is very bright, with new practice opportunities quickly emerging. ASCP currently has a task force looking at some of these new opportunities and will be recommending educational activities to help members be well prepared for these new practice endeavors. This year’s ASCP leadership plan focuses on embracing change and expanding practice opportunities, which resonate well with some of Dr. Resnick’s ideas. Jeffrey C. Delafuente, MS, FCCP, FASCP President American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
Editor’s note: Dr. Resnick was provided with a copy of
Dr. Delafuente’s letter and did not feel that a response was necessary, as she was in agreement with his comments.
Doi:10.4140/TCP.n.2014.222. 222
The Consultant Pharmacist april 2014 Vol. 29, No. 4
