title: Identifying the Optimal Role for Pharmacists in Care Transitions: A Systematic Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A transition from one health care setting to another increases the risk of medication errors. Several strategies have been applied to improve care transitions and reduce adverse clinical outcomes. Pharmacist intervention during and after hospitalization has been frequently studied and show a variable effect on these outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the components of pharmacist intervention that improve clinical outcomes during care transitions.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE, EMBASE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Web of Science databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that studied pharmacist intervention with regard to hospitalization. Two reviewers independently screened all references published from inception to November 2014, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 30 studies met the inclusion criteria. A model was created to categorize and cluster components of pharmacist intervention. The average number of components deployed, stages of hospitalization covered, and intervention targets were equally distributed between effective and ineffective studies. A best evidence synthesis of 15 studies revealed strong evidence for a clinical medication review in multifaceted programs (5 effective vs. 0 ineffective studies). Conflicting evidence was found for an isolated postdischarge intervention, admission medication reconciliation, combining postdischarge interventions with in-hospital interventions, and covering of multiple stages. Closely collaborating with other health care providers enhanced the effectiveness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there is a need for well-designed and well-reported RCTs, the study heterogeneity enabled a best evidence synthesis to elucidate effective components of pharmacist intervention. In isolated postdischarge intervention programs, evidence tends towards collaborating with nurses and tailoring to individual patient needs. In multifaceted intervention programs, performing medication reconciliation alone is insufficient in reducing postdischarge clinical outcomes and should be combined with active patient counseling and a clinical medication review. Furthermore, close collaboration between pharmacists and physicians is beneficial. Finally, it is important to secure continuity of care by integrating pharmacists in these multifaceted programs across health care settings. Ultimately, pharmacists need to know patient clinical background and previous hospital experience.
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Bolognalaan 101, P.O. Box 85182, 3508 AD Utrecht, the Netherlands. rensing@zorggroep-almere.nl.
authors.forename: Hendrik T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ensing
authors.forename: Clementine C M
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Stuijt
authors.forename: Bart J F
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: van den Bemt
authors.forename: Ad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: van Dooren
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Karapinar-Çarkit
authors.forename: Ellen S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Koster
authors.forename: Marcel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bouvy
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010343:Patient Admission; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010360:Patient Transfer; D010595:Pharmacists; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital; D010819:Physician's Role; D024382:Professional Role; D012307:Risk Factors