Patient-centered Health Care Delivery Uniting MTM, EHRs and Patients: Opportunities for Pharmacists
Michael A Veronin, Fadi M Alkhateeb
2016
Journal of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems
Objective With the advent of the Internet, World Wide Web, high speed computers, and subsequently wireless and mobile technology, smartphones, and even social networking, clinicians have many more digital tools available with the potential to help augment better patient care. As expressed by Hoyt et al. "...more healthcare workers will need to be 'bilingual' in both technology and medicine." [5] . The purpose of this report is to describe a patient-centered approach to health care delivery by
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... armacists with focus on patients with chronic illnesses. The emphasis is on the incorporation of Health Information Technology (HIT)-driven Medication Therapy Management with the centerpiece of health data management, the Electronic Health Record, and the potential for transforming pharmacist-mediated healthcare services. Abstract Objective: To describe a patient-centered approach to health care delivery for chronically ill patients that emphasizes incorporation of HIT-driven Medication Therapy Management with Electronic Health Records. Summary: Health care delivery for patients with chronic conditions is often ineffective and costly. A consolidated approach is needed, and there has never been a more opportune time for pharmacists to implement improvements through HIT-driven Medication Therapy Management (MTM) incorporating Electronic Health Records. The primary role of the MTM provider is to identify and resolve barriers in treatment before the health and welfare of the patient are adversely affected. The proposed approach incorporates MTM services and Electronic Health Records and would help to achieve optimal drug therapy and address deficiencies in treatment for patients with chronic illnesses to improve quality of life. The EHR will be considered to be the "centerpiece" of health care delivery with the potential to improve patient safety, productivity, and data retrieval. The EHR will likely be the focal point of all patient encounters in the future, and the major access point of patient information for pharmacists in a variety of clinical settings. Conclusion: Current healthcare initiatives that promote MTM services and the use of Health Information Technology such as Electronic Health Records can improve on patient monitoring and favorably impact the prognosis for the patients with chronic illnesses.
doi:10.4172/2376-0419.1000115
fatcat:id4n5b6mq5ea5minyuzxc5kkvy