Chase Reece, BSHP '24

During my time in the office today, I further looked into research regarding the overall perceptions and attitudes of pharmacists regarding collaborative drug therapy modification. A recent qualitative study among CDTM licensed pharmacists in Georgia aimed to understand the perceptions of facilitators and barriers towards CDTM implementation within the state. The study found four themes among facilitators: practice autonomy, personal attributes, having support, and institutional logistics. The desire for greater autonomy and ability to expand their clinical scope of practice was commonly a facilitator for the development of CDTM among the participants. Additionally, personal attributes including advanced certifications, job satisfaction, and internal motivation were all positively associated with CDTM implementation. Another significant facilitator identified was support from other stakeholders, such as physicians, administrators, and other healthcare providers. This is an important aspect of implementation because a successful CDTM program heavily relies on collaboration and buy-in from physicians and healthcare professionals within the community. The majority of the barriers that were identified dealt with regulations, restrictions, and oversight. Specifically, the lengthy process and requirements from the Board of Pharmacy was commonly mentioned as a barrier to implementation. Other regulatory issues centered on pharmacists’ lack of provider status which prevents them from being able to bill at higher levels of care for insurance reimbursement, so they often are not receiving compensation for some of the services they provide. Another issue was unclear expectations of pharmacist capabilities from healthcare providers and the general expectations of both patients and healthcare providers that pharmacists are typically associated with dispensing roles and not clinical roles. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of removing or changing some of the broader restrictions and red tape for pharmacists in a way that is safe and improves the quality of care for patients while also increasing collaboration among physicians and pharmacists within the community.