Mobile application features sought after by patients of a regional grocery store chain pharmacy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mobile application features for pharmacy services sought after by patients of a grocery store chain pharmacy. METHODS: Key informant interviews were conducted at 5 Giant Eagle Pharmacy locations in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Patients older than 35 years who receive 1 prescription monthly from Giant Eagle and use a smartphone daily were eligible to participate. Interviews were audio recorded, and transcripts underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-four interviews were conducted from February to March 2014. The average age of participants was 51 years. About one-half of the participants (46%) were currently using mobile applications to manage their health. Three themes emerged regarding patients' desires for a mobile application: design that fosters an improved, convenient pharmacy experience; features that support the self-management of health; and design that increases personalized, timely access to pharmacists. CONCLUSION: This qualitative analysis revealed that pharmacy patients desire a mobile application that improves the convenience of their pharmacy experience, enables them to self-manage their health, and increases their access to their pharmacist.

Optimizing care transitions: the role of the community pharmacist.

Transitions of care (TOC) refer to the movement of patients across institutions, among providers, between different levels of care, and to and from home. Medication errors that occur during TOC have the potential to result in medical complications that are serious for the patient and costly to the health care system. Positive outcomes have been demonstrated when pharmacists are involved in providing TOC services, including reducing preventable adverse drug reactions, medication-related problems, and rehospitalizations, as well as improving the discharge process. This review explores TOC models involving community pharmacy practice, the current impact of pharmacist interventions in TOC, and patient satisfaction with TOC services provided by community pharmacists. Common barriers and potential solutions to TOC services provided in the community pharmacy, such as patient identification, information gathering, standardization of services, administrative support, reimbursement, and time restraints, are also discussed.