Pharmacists reduce GPs’ burnout
GENERAL practitioners who partner with pharmacists as part of primary care teams are less likely to suffer depression or burnout, a US study reveals.
Published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, the study’s authors reported that more than 50% of primary care providers experience burnout, which can lead to increased depression and higher rates of suicide, poor patient outcomes and increases in medical errors.
“In primary care, clinical pharmacists often deliver a service called comprehensive medication management (CMM),” the researchers wrote but found that primary care providers believe comprehensive medication management, provided by a pharmacist, “in general, positively affects their work-life”.
GPs spoke of the pharmacist bringing “an added skillset and resource and a collaborative partner in caring for patients. They also described seven outcomes of having CMM available that contribute to their work-life.
“These outcomes were: decreased workload, satisfaction patients are receiving better care, reassurance, decreased mental exhaustion, enhanced professional learning, increased provider access, and achievement of quality measures.”
CMM used to be known as medication management services that comprise a spectrum of patient-centered, pharmacist-provided, collaborative services that focus on improving patients’ medication and health outcomes.
A common medication management service provided by many pharmacists is medication therapy management but the CMM terminology better reflects the more comprehensive nature of the process.
“CMM is a defined process of care most often provided by a pharmacist and can take place in many settings, including primary care practices.”
Lead author and Assistant Professor at the College of Pharmacy, Twin Cities, Kylee Funk, said, “As a medical community, we are very concerned about burnout.
“Our findings are promising for healthcare leaders who are seeking solutions to decrease burnout and improve joy in work,” she said.
“It is exciting to identify that working with a pharmacist may offer very important benefits for clinicians.”
Access the study at jabfm.org.