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Objectives: Telemedicine visits are an increasingly popular method of care for mild infectious complaints, including uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), and they are an important target for antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) to evaluate quality of prescribing. In this study, we compared antimicrobial prescribing in a primary care network for uncomplicated UTIs treated through virtual visits and at in-office visits. Design: Retrospective cohort study comparing guideline-concordant antibiotic prescribing for uncomplicated UTI between virtual visits and office visits. Setting: Primary care network composed of 44 outpatient sites and a single virtual visit platform. Patients: Adult female patients diagnosed with a UTI between January 1 and December 31, 2018. Methods: Virtual visit prescribing was compared to office visit prescribing, including agent, duration, and patient outcomes. The health system ASP provides annual education to all outpatient providers regarding local antibiogram trends and prescribing guidelines. Guideline-concordant therapy was assessed based on the network’s ASP guidelines. Results: In total, 350 patients were included, with 175 per group. Patients treated for a UTI through a virtual visit were more likely to receive a first-line antibiotic agent (74.9% vs 59.4%; P = .002) and guideline-concordant duration (100% vs 53.1%; P < .001). Patients treated through virtual visits were also less likely to have a urinalysis (0% vs 97.1%; P < .001) or urine culture (0% vs 73.1%; P < .001) ordered and were less likely to revisit within 7 days (5.1% vs 18.9%; P < .001). Conclusions: UTI care through a virtual visit was associated with more appropriate antimicrobial prescribing compared to office visits and decreased utilization of diagnostic and follow-up resources.

Objective. To evaluate faculty and student perceptions and performance of virtual compared to in-person skills-based assessments focused on communication. Methods. Providing sufficient formative and summative feedback is a challenge, particularly in the context of skills-based assessments. In spring 2020, two 12-item questionnaires, one each for students and faculty, were designed to assess perceptions of virtual skills-based assessments. The survey was distributed via QuestionPro© to second and third professional year pharmacy students and faculty who participated in a virtual skills-based assessment. Scores from the spring 2020 virtual skills-based assessment were compared to the in-person skills-based assessment that took place in spring 2019. Results. Of the 19 faculty and 279 students invited to participate, 18 (94.7%) faculty and 241 (86.4%) students responded. The majority of faculty (88.9%) and students (63.5%) perceived the virtual skills-based assessments to be effective at simulating an interaction. However, only 33.3% of faculty and 28.6% of students preferred the virtual environment. There was not a significant difference in the percent of third year students scoring 80% or higher between in-person and virtual assessments for patient consultation and subjective, objective, assessment, and plan (SOAP) note skills. Conclusion. Students and faculty reported the virtual assessment provided an opportunity for an appropriate assessment of student communication skills. However, despite feelings that the assessment was appropriate, a strong preference for future virtual skills-based assessments was not observed.

Introduction Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of bacterial infections and leads to 1.5 million hospitalizations annually. Vaccinations are one of the most important and cost‐effective tools available in healthcare to prevent infectious diseases. However, gaps still exist between what is recommended and actual vaccination rates in the United States. Objective The primary objective of this study was to assess the impact of a newly implemented pharmacist‐led pneumococcal vaccination outreach program on overall PPSV23 rates in the primary care setting. Methods This was a retrospective, quasi‐experimental study conducted following the implementation of a newly developed, pharmacist‐led, vaccination outreach program as part of a novel standard of care practice implemented in two primary care offices. Pharmacists provided direct patient outreach through telephone calls to all patients deemed eligible for PPSV23 that met inclusion criteria. Pharmacists provided counseling on PPSV23 and action steps to receive the vaccine at the office through appointment. The primary outcome of change in vaccination rates was assessed 90 days after patient outreach. Secondary outcomes assessed feasibility, common barriers to vaccination, coadministration with influenza vaccination, and revenue changes. Results A total of 762 patients were contacted under the outreach program. Overall PPSV23 vaccination rates significantly increased following the implementation of the pharmacist‐led vaccination outreach program (54.1% vs 60.5%, P < 0.001). Of the 398 patients reached, 38.9% accepted the recommendation for PPSV23 and 66.5% of those patients had confirmed administration. Approximate revenue generation secondary to the program was $5568.85. Conclusion A pharmacist‐led PPSV23 vaccination outreach program significantly increased the rate of PPSV23 vaccination in two primary care offices, leading to improved compliance with national vaccination recommendations and revenue generation.