title: Integrated clinical and specialty pharmacy practice model for management of patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An integrated clinical and specialty pharmacy practice model for the management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specialty medications, such as disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) used to treat MS, are costly and typically require special administration, handling, and storage. DMTs are associated with high rates of nonadherence and may have associated safety risks. The University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System developed an MS pharmacy practice model that sought to address the many challenges of coordinating care with multiple entities outside the health system. Several key features of the integrated model include a dedicated clinical pharmacist on the MS specialty team, an integrated specialty pharmacy service, direct access to the electronic medical record, and face-to-face interaction with patients. Through the active involvement of the neurology clinical pharmacist and an onsite specialty pharmacy service, targeted assessments and medication and disease education are provided to the patient before DMT initiation and maintained throughout therapy. In addition, the regular point of contact and refill coordination encourages improved compliance, appropriate medication use, ongoing safety monitoring, and improved communication with the provider for quicker interventions. This fosters increased accessibility, convenience, and patient confidence. Improving patient outcomes--the priority goal of this service model--will be assessed in future planned studies. Through this new practice model, providers are empowered to incorporate specialty medication management into transitions in care, admission and discharge quality indicators, readmissions, and other core measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An integrated pharmacy practice model that includes an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists improved patient compliance with MS therapies.
authors.affiliation: Rebekah L. Hanson, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCACP, is Clinical Liaison Pharmacist, Specialty Pharmacy Services, and Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Chicago. Mitra Habibi, Pharm.D., is Clinical Pharmacist, Department of Neurology, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, and Clinical Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, UIC. Nehrin Khamo, Pharm.D., is Clinical Staff Pharmacist, Specialty Pharmacy Services, and Clinical Instructor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, UIC. Sherif Abdou, B.S., is Pharm.D. Candidate and Student Pharmacist, Specialty Pharmacy Services; and JoAnn Stubbings, B.S.Pharm., M.H.C.A., is Assistant Director, Specialty Pharmacy Services, and Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, UIC.
authors.forename: Rebekah L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habibi
authors.forename: Nehrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khamo
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdou
authors.forename: JoAnn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stubbings
mesh_terms: D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000639:trends; D010349:Patient Compliance; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000639:trends; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000639:trends; D024382:Professional Role
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations