1. Take stock of all they do. Typically, not many people realize the full scope of their duties or capabilities.
“Consultant pharmacists are responsible for the entire process of pharmacy in the nursing home,” said Chad Worz, PharmD, CEO of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. “Their primary role is to ensure that ordering, receiving, storing and administering medications are sound and rigidly followed.”
2. Realize the pandemic changed everything, including pharmacists’ roles. Thanks to a decimated workforce that has yet to recover, they took on myriad new functions, including administering COVID-19 vaccines. Worz believes administering vaccinations for influenza, pneumococcal disease and more will be key in the future.
“This could improve the percentages of residents and staff vaccinated and better report data to quell future outbreaks,” Worz noted. In the end, the process will lead to more efficient med passes and create more time for the nurses and nurse assistants, he said.
“CPs will play even more critical roles in supporting staff and improving quality of care, while providing an invaluable learning bridge for new hires from administrator on down,” added Bethany Bramwell, RPh, BCGP, consultant pharmacist and senior director of customer experience at Guardian Pharmacy of Missouri and Kansas.
3. Take steps now to be part of the bigger picture.
“Providers see that their consultant pharmacists’ relationship should go beyond just providing medication regimen reviews,” said Erin M. Foti, PharmD, vice president of consulting services for Remedi Senior Care. “We’ve also learned in the past two-plus years that timely and effective communication is paramount to shared success.”
“Working closely together with a consultant pharmacist can be beneficial to reduce clinical costs, save nursing time, reduce readmissions to the hospital, and improve the quality of care for our residents,” Foti added.
Kevin Coggin, PharmD, consultant pharmacist at Turenne PharMedCo,said there’s a perfect opportunity now for CPs and clinicians inside nursing homes to forge even closer ties.
“Administrators and DONs should seek out their expertise when evaluating residents who have issues with swallowing, frequent falls, repeated sedation, (and) behavioral changes,” said Coggin. “They can help consultants maximize their time by providing a list of residents experiencing suspected adverse consequences (so) we can … make meaningful interventions.”
4. Embrace more meaningful ties. The pandemic has accelerated a pivotal change in the traditional relationship between consultant pharmacists and the staff they serve, according to Marti Wdowicki, PharmD, director of clinical operations – South for PharMerica.
“For years, most inside healthcare have viewed pharmacy as a very transactional business,” Wdowicki said. “In the past few years, we’ve begun to see a shared vision and a key shift toward being true, consultative partners.”
Both parties are exploring collaborations and strategies to harness data on disease state management, fall risks and hospital readmission rates, she added.
An extension of that can be seen in PharMerica’s “Partners in Nurse Advancement” educational initiative designed to support DONs and other nurse leaders in long-term and post-acute care with needed resources and education, said Lisa Bowen, vice president of marketing for PharMerica.
The company also teamed up with the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration to provide information and insights from DONs and pharmacy consultants for improved outcomes, care excellence and a better future for nurses.
5. Seize the time now to tackle the highest risk areas, in light of the still-precarious position that so many nursing homes find themselves in.
“When looking at an individual facility’s quality indicators or other metrics of high-risk medications, a consultant pharmacist can make recommendations to improve the quality of life for our vulnerable geriatric population, create medication administration efficiencies and save valuable nursing time,” Foti said.
