A pharmacist's role in GP Super Clinics
Beata Bajorek, Kate LeMay, Kate Gunn, Carol Armour
Abstract
Background
The Australian government’s General Practitioner (GP) super clinics programme aims to provide well-integrated, multidisciplinary, patient-centred care for people with chronic disease. However, there is no research into the current role of pharmacists in this setting.
Aims
To explore the perspectives of GP super clinic staff on current and potential (future) pharmacist-led services provided in this setting.
Methods
Individual interviews (facilitated using a semi-structured interview guide and thematically analysed) were conducted with purposively sampled staff of a GP super clinic in a semi- rural location in the state of New South Wales, until theme saturation. Participating staff included (n=9): three GPs, one pharmacist, one nurse, one business manager, and three reception staff.
Results
Three themes emerged conveying perspectives on: working relationships between staff; a pharmacist’s current role; and potential future roles for a pharmacist. All clinic staff actively engaged the pharmacist in their “team approach”. Currently established roles for home medicines reviews (HMRs) and drug information were well supported, but needed to be expanded, for example, with formalised case conferences between GPs, pharmacists, and other staff. New roles needed be explored in auditing medication use, optimising medication records, specialised drug information, dispensing, and prescribing. Although GPs had differing views about opportunities for pharmacists’ prescribing in this setting, they saw several benefits to this service, such as reducing the time pressure on GPs to enable more effective consultations.
Conclusion
Results suggest a pharmacist’s services can potentially be better used within the multidisciplinary super clinic model of care to address current gaps within the semi-rural practice setting. Any future role for the pharmacist could be addressed as part of a formalised, strategic approach to creating an integrated healthcare team, with attention to funding and government legislation.
Full Text:
The Australian government’s General Practitioner (GP) super clinics programme aims to provide well-integrated, multidisciplinary, patient-centred care for people with chronic disease. However, there is no research into the current role of pharmacists in this setting.
Aims
To explore the perspectives of GP super clinic staff on current and potential (future) pharmacist-led services provided in this setting.
Methods
Individual interviews (facilitated using a semi-structured interview guide and thematically analysed) were conducted with purposively sampled staff of a GP super clinic in a semi- rural location in the state of New South Wales, until theme saturation. Participating staff included (n=9): three GPs, one pharmacist, one nurse, one business manager, and three reception staff.
Results
Three themes emerged conveying perspectives on: working relationships between staff; a pharmacist’s current role; and potential future roles for a pharmacist. All clinic staff actively engaged the pharmacist in their “team approach”. Currently established roles for home medicines reviews (HMRs) and drug information were well supported, but needed to be expanded, for example, with formalised case conferences between GPs, pharmacists, and other staff. New roles needed be explored in auditing medication use, optimising medication records, specialised drug information, dispensing, and prescribing. Although GPs had differing views about opportunities for pharmacists’ prescribing in this setting, they saw several benefits to this service, such as reducing the time pressure on GPs to enable more effective consultations.
Conclusion
Results suggest a pharmacist’s services can potentially be better used within the multidisciplinary super clinic model of care to address current gaps within the semi-rural practice setting. Any future role for the pharmacist could be addressed as part of a formalised, strategic approach to creating an integrated healthcare team, with attention to funding and government legislation.
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