title: Development and Implementation of Clinical Pharmacist Services Within an Integrated Medical Group.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2012, pharmacists were integrated into a medical group to provide direct patient care, drug information activities, and health care provider education. The medical group encompasses 40 primary care and 60 specialty offices in Virginia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the development and implementation of clinical pharmacist services integrated within a medical group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharmacists' roles and responsibilities, type and number of patient encounters, and identification of strategies to facilitate implementation are described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From June 2012 to December 2014, pharmacists had 809 patient encounters, which included patient-centered education, medication consults, Medicare annual wellness visits, senior care visits, and comprehensive medication reviews. Pharmacists addressed 403 drug information requests from nurse navigators, providers, and administrators. Pharmacists also have roles in risk management, quality improvement initiatives, and operations that benefit the medical group. Strategies to facilitate implementation include working with organizational leadership, identifying a physician champion, and establishing credibility by being responsive to practice needs and responding to requests in a timely manner to build trust within the health care team.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Integration of pharmacists within health care teams involves more than direct patient care activities. Pharmacists should be involved at the organizational level to have a broader impact on patient and practice levels.
authors.affiliation: 1 Bon Secours Medical Group, Bon Secours Virginia Health System, Midlothian, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Kerri T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Musselman
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Leticia R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Moczygemba
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.affiliation: 3 Bon Secours Medical Group, Bon Secours Virginia Health System, Suffolk, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Mary-Beth F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Plum
authors.affiliation: 1 Bon Secours Medical Group, Bon Secours Virginia Health System, Midlothian, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Brokaw
authors.affiliation: 4 Bon Secours Medical Group, Bon Secours Virginia Health System, Mechanicsville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010595:Pharmacists; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024382:Professional Role; D016730:Program Development
keywords: accountable care organizations; ambulatory care; patient-centered medical homes; primary care