In a recent study published in the journal ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research , researchers compared minor ailments care provided by community pharmacists to that provided by primary care physicians (PCP), urgent care facilities, and emergency departments (ED). Study: Expanding Access to Patient Care in Community Pharmacies for Minor Illnesses in Washington State. Image Credit: PeopleImages.
com - Yuri A / Shutterstock.com As demand for healthcare services in the United States continues to surpass capacity, new distribution methods are urgently needed. One approach involves using non-physician practitioners to reduce high wait times and cost difficulties for low-income patients.
Diversification of responsibilities and workforce development can help improve population healthcare efficiency. Pharmacists, for example, have progressed from medicine dispensing to pharmaceutical therapy management and other healthcare services. In fact, many pharmacists have been successfully integrated with healthcare teams to enhance patient outcomes and develop novel healthcare delivery models.
The present study examines care costs and quality disparities between pharmacist-provided treatment and standard care from PCPs, urgent care clinics, and ED facilities. Between 2016 and 2019, pharmacy site visits were conducted at 46 pharmacies, which comprised 175 pharmacists across five pharmacy businesses. The study included community pharmacies such as drugstores, grocery shops, multi-departments, .
