Medication therapy management: its relationship to patient counseling, disease management, and pharmaceutical care.
OBJECTIVE
To delineate the relationship, including similarities and differences, between medication therapy management (MTM) and contemporary pharmacist-provided services, including patient counseling, disease management, and pharmaceutical care, to facilitate the continued evolution of commonly used language and a standard of practice across geographic areas and practice environments.


CONCLUSIONS
Incorporation of MTM services into the array of Medicare-funded services affords an opportunity for pharmacists to develop direct patient care services in the community. Defining the role of MTM within the scope of pharmacist-provided patient care activities, including patient counseling, disease management, and all currently provided pharmacy services is essential to the delineation of a viable and sustainable practice model for pharmacists. The definitions of each of these services are offered, as well as comparisons and contrasts of the individual services. In addition to Medicare-eligible patients, MTM services are appropriate for anyone with medication-related needs. MTM is offered as an all-encompassing model that incorporates the philosophy of pharmaceutical care, techniques of patient counseling, and disease management in an environment that facilitates the direct collaboration of patients, pharmacists, and other health professionals.


CONCLUSIONS
Defining the role of MTM within the current patient care models, including patient counseling, disease management, and all who provide pharmacy services, is essential in delineating a viable and sustainable practice model for pharmacists.
McGivney
Melissa Somma
MS
School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. somma@pitt.edu
Meyer
Susan M
SM
Duncan-Hewitt
Wendy
W
Hall
Deanne L
DL
Goode
Jean-Venable R
JV
Smith
Randall B
RB
D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D003376:Counseling / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D019468:Disease Management; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D010595:Pharmacists; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014481:United States