title: Physicians' Preferences for Communication of Pharmacist-Provided Medication Therapy Management in Community Pharmacy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (1) To identify physicians' preferences in regard to pharmacist-provided medication therapy management (MTM) communication in the community pharmacy setting; (2) to identify physicians' perceived barriers to communicating with a pharmacist regarding MTM; and (3) to determine whether Missouri physicians feel MTM is beneficial for their patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional prospective survey study of 2021 family and general practice physicians registered with MO HealthNet, Missouri's Medicaid program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority (52.8%) of physicians preferred MTM data to be communicated via fax. Most physicians who provided care to patients in long-term care (LTC) facilities (81.0%) preferred to be contacted at their practice location as opposed to the LTC facility. The greatest barriers to communication were lack of time and inefficient communication practices. Improved/enhanced communication was the most common suggestion for improvement in the MTM process. Approximately 67% of respondents reported MTM as beneficial or somewhat beneficial for their patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survey respondents saw value in the MTM services offered by pharmacists. However, pharmacists should use the identified preferences and barriers to improve their currently utilized communication practices in hopes of increasing acceptance of recommendations. Ultimately, this may assist MTM providers in working collaboratively with patients' physicians.
authors.affiliation: 1 Red Cross Pharmacy, Inc, Warrensburg, MO, USA.|2 Was PGY1 Community Practice Resident, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA at the time this study was conducted.
authors.forename: Kendall D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Guthrie
authors.affiliation: 3 School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Stoner
authors.affiliation: 4 Red Cross Pharmacy, Inc, Excelsior Springs, MO, USA.
authors.forename: D Matthew
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.affiliation: 5 Red Cross Pharmacy, Inc, Marshall, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Justin R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: 6 Red Cross Pharmacy, Inc, Grain Valley, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Nicolaus
authors.affiliation: 5 Red Cross Pharmacy, Inc, Marshall, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schramm
authors.affiliation: 3 School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.|4 Red Cross Pharmacy, Inc, Excelsior Springs, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: DiDonato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054539:Medication Therapy Management; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: barriers; communication; community pharmacy; medication therapy management; physician preferences