Development and implementation of pharmaceutical care planning software for nursing homes based on the Fleetwood Model.
OBJECTIVE
The effectiveness of pharmaceutical care planning software for nursing homes and the extent to which the software assisted in the implementation of the Fleetwood Model are described.


METHODS
During the study, one long-term-care pharmacy identified 13 nursing homes to participate in the intervention group of a study evaluating the effectiveness of the Fleetwood Model. To successfully implement the Fleetwood Model, which demands prospective drug regimen review and collaborative practices between dispensing and consultant pharmacists, a software system that exchanged information between these pharmacists was deemed necessary. Pharmacists' self-reported assessments of the use of the software and the technical difficulties reported with its use were collected. The number of interventions performed by pharmacist type, the proportion of residents receiving interventions by multiple pharmacists, and the extent to which the interventions were prospective and performed before the mandated 30-day review were estimated from data documented in the software. The consistency of software use by the pharmacists was also estimated.


RESULTS
Seventy-one percent of dispensing pharmacists and 40% of consultant pharmacists reported using the software most or all of the time. Fourteen percent of dispensing pharmacists and 40% of consultant pharmacists reported technical difficulties with the software. Over half of newly admitted or readmitted residents received a Fleetwood intervention within 3 days of admittance into the nursing home-71.2% occurred in less than 30 days of admission.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of information technology to increase communication among health care professionals and assist in providing prospective drug regimen review in long-term-care facilities is feasible. Collaboration and extensive field testing with end users, realistic expectations, appropriate training, and technical support are necessary when implementing new technology.
Lapane
Kate L
KL
Department of Community Health, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI 02903, USA. kate_lapane@brown.edu
Hiris
Jeffrey
J
Hughes
Carmel M
CM
Feinberg
Janice
J
D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003253:Consultants; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000592:standards*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000592:standards*; D010595:Pharmacists; D024382:Professional Role; D012984:Software