NEW YORK — Pharmacists are playing an increasingly active role in patient care, according to Manhattan Research’s Taking the Pulse Pharmacists 2012 study.
Releasing the results this week, the health care market research and advisory firm said about two-fifths of pharmacists polled indicated they spend more time providing care and support for patients, such as recommending a pharmaceutical company website or app to their patients, than they did two years ago.
The leading conditions for which retail pharmacists provide the most care and support are diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, pain, respiratory diseases and psychosis/depression
The study surveyed 752 U.S. pharmacists online in September and October about their use of various channels and sources, including digital content and mobile devices for professional purposes, pharma interaction and patient care.
"Pharmacists are stepping outside of their traditional roles and are increasingly providing patient care services supplemented by the vast array of digital information and tools at their disposal," Shawn Dimantha, principal analyst at Manhattan Research, said in a statement. "As primary care providers struggle to meet patient demand, pharmacists will play a growing role as an alternative point of care."
The research also revealed that pharmacists would like pharmaceutical companies to provide more online access to resources to help them support their patients. For instance, over three-quarters of pharmacists polled said they would like access to online patient education materials from pharma companies. What’s more, 64% of retail pharmacists said they would like patient assistance or vouchers, provided by pharma firms, through their electronic health record (EHR) systems.
