Assessing a pharmacist provided mental health screening service in a rural community to address anxiety and depression.

BACKGROUND: The current state of the mental health crisis has been a topic of discussion around the nation, with those in rural communities being at a particularly higher risk. Community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to screen patients for mental health disorders and provide education and patient monitoring following medication changes by prescribers. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess mental health screening outcomes provided by rural community pharmacists. METHODS: This retrospective evaluation of a pilot project describes a behavioral health service. Eligible patients were 18 years of age or older, taking one or more mental health medications and covered by the specific Medicaid health plan. Participating pharmacies were those that had a considerable patient population participating with that plan, as well as credentialed and trained pharmacists. Pharmacists performed telehealth visits with eligible patients where they confirmed their mental health diagnosis and medications. Based on patient confirmed diagnosis, a Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (GAD-7) or Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) test was administered. The pharmacists then made recommendations to the patients or their prescribers and created a plan with the patient for implementation based on their score.Follow-up calls were conducted to readminister the appropriate test to identify changes in mental health scores. RESULTS: There were 61 patients who participated in the services across 4 pharmacies. Mean GAD-7 scores were 8.1 at initial appointment and 6.4 at follow-up (n = 24). Mean PHQ-9 scores were 11.2 initially and 10 at follow-up (n = 37). CONCLUSION: This implementation project supports the creation of additional mental health services in the community pharmacy setting to reinforce and encourage follow-up provider visits in areas where there are mental health provider shortages and may possibly improve patient outcomes.

Evaluation of gender-affirming care experiences of transgender and gender diverse patients within a LGBTQ+ community pharmacy.

BACKGROUND: Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) populations require personalized care. Lived experiences and needs TGD populations express, compounded by limited care access, negatively shape health care involvement. Manifestations from these barriers may present as health care avoidance, identity concealment, or preventive care hinderance. Community pharmacies remain engagement points for TGD patients, but gender diverse services remain limited. What remains unknown is how TGD pharmacy perceptions and behaviors are influenced with gender-affirming care (GAC) accessibility. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective is to assess how TGD patient perceptions and behaviors toward community pharmacy experiences are affected through a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and others (LGBTQ+) community-based health system. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multisite, reflective survey was conducted at 4 LGBTQ+ community pharmacies in central and southwest Ohio. Nine 5-point Likert-item questions and one ordinal question were used to analyze perception and behavior. Participants responded for LGBTQ+ and external pharmacy experiences respectively. Data were analyzed through descriptive methods, paired Student's t test, and Fisher's exact test or c2 test where appropriate. RESULTS: In total, 267 surveys were completed with 96 TGD submissions qualifying for analysis. Perceptions toward pharmacy experience saw statistically significant differences among all evaluations of perception. Behavioral assessment demonstrated statistically significant improvements in pharmacy outreach except for seeking medications from outside sources. Respondents indicated more involvement with the LGBTQ+ pharmacies versus external pharmacies in discussing medications (96.9% vs. 60.4%), care plans (64.6% vs. 41.6%), disclosure of pronouns or gender (97.9% vs. 43.8%), and feeling needs were understood (96.8% vs. 51%). CONCLUSION: Inclusive community pharmacies may positively affect pharmacy perceptions and behaviors of TGD patients. These findings call attention to barriers in the provision of care for TGD patients while highlighting the change community pharmacies can have when providing these services. Community pharmacies should be encouraged to incorporate inclusive environments to improve TGD patient care involvement and access.

Pharmacists' facilitators and barriers to implementing and billing for patient care services: Interviews from the Ohio Medicaid Project.

BACKGROUND: In the past several decades, a growing body of literature is recognizing the benefits of pharmacist-led health care services in improving clinical and economic outcomes. Despite this evidence, pharmacists are not recognized on a federal level as health care providers in the United States. Ohio Medicaid managed care plans began partnering with local pharmacies in 2020 to launch initial programs for implementing pharmacist-provided clinical services. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to implementing and billing for pharmacist-provided services in Ohio Medicaid managed care plan programs. METHODS: This qualitative study interviewed pharmacists involved in the initial programs using a semistructured interview based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Interview transcripts were coded for thematic analysis. Identified themes were mapped to the CFIR domains. RESULTS: Four Medicaid payors partnered with 12 pharmacy organizations, representing 16 unique sites of care. Interviews were conducted with 11 participants. The thematic analysis found data fit within the 5 domains with 32 total themes. Pharmacists described the implementation process of their services. The primary themes for improvement of implementation process were system integration, payor rule clarity, and patient eligibility and access. The 3 themes that emerged as key facilitators were communication between payors and pharmacists, communication between pharmacist and care teams, and the perceived value of the service. CONCLUSIONS: Payors and pharmacists can work collaboratively to improve patient care opportunities by increasing access with sustainable reimbursement, clear guidelines, and open communication. Continued improvement is needed in system integration, payor rule clarity, and patient eligibility and access.

BreatheOut: Development and implementation of a pharmacist-led, culturally tailored smoking cessation program for transgender and gender diverse patients.

BACKGROUND: The transgender population has disparities and predictors of smoking unique from the general population. Although culturally tailored smoking cessation programs have been created for minority populations with increased burden of tobacco use, there are no such pharmacist-led smoking cessation interventions for transgender patients. OBJECTIVES: The objective is to describe the development and implementation of a culturally tailored smoking cessation program for transgender and gender diverse patients and highlight an opportunity for pharmacist involvement in the interdisciplinary health care team for trans patients. METHODS: The BreatheOut program was devised as a pharmacist-led smoking cessation program for transgender and gender diverse patients. The program was designed based on the PEN-3 model for centering cultural identity in behavior change and was administered in an ambulatory care setting at a community health center with integrated clinical pharmacists. Patients are offered pharmacotherapy for treatment of smoking cessation in accordance with guideline-directed therapy. RESULTS: Preliminary evaluation of this program was conducted through a prospective, observational study. To assess long-term feasibility of the program, time spent at each visit was tracked to calculate cost using a pharmacy resident versus a clinical pharmacist to provide the service. The program was financially feasible when the cost of personnel time was compared with medical billing and pharmacy revenue. CONCLUSION: This culturally tailored smoking cessation program for a population with a high burden of smoking was found to be feasible when administered by a pharmacy resident or clinical pharmacist. Preliminary data support expansion of this program and the use of a culturally tailored approach to smoking cessation in this population.

Assessment of community pharmacists' confidence, foundational knowledge, and coordination of care activities in patients with cancer as a chronic condition.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and deliver a series of structured educational programs to community pharmacists to build on current foundational knowledge of cancer and cancer therapy. The specific objectives were to: 1) develop and provide an educational program focused on oncology pharmacy practice in the community; and 2) measure the program impact on participants' confidence, foundational knowledge, and coordination of cancer care activities. PRACTICE INNOVATION: A structured, in-person, 6-hour educational program tailored for community pharmacists was developed and delivered along with two 20-minute online webinar sessions. The topics identified for the webinars were based on solicited feedback from participants attending the live educational program. EVALUATION: A pre- and post-survey was used to evaluate the participant's assessment of the live educational program, and a retrospective survey was used to evaluate the education sessions. RESULTS: Twenty-one pharmacists attended the in-person session. Participants indicated that they were more confident and able to coordinate care after the educational intervention. There was a nonsignificant improvement in foundational knowledge. CONCLUSION: The educational sessions provided current relevant information for community pharmacists to build on knowledge of oncology pharmacy practice and resources. This increased the pharmacists' confidence to address needs and facilitate coordination of care for individuals with cancer. Delivery of education tailored to community pharmacy is important as the advancing cancer care model continues to adapt with new medications and innovations.