Background Effective communication between pharmacists across healthcare settings is essential to facilitate transitions of care (TOC) and improve patient outcomes. Objective To explore pharmacists’ communication methods and preferences and identify barriers to communication during TOC. Methods A survey was distributed to a convenience sample of pharmacists in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Texas. The survey collected information on pharmacists’ demographics, practice settings, and clinical services, and their methods, preferences, and barriers to communication during TOC. Results A total of 308 responses were included in the analysis. The majority of pharmacists practiced in inpatient pharmacy (39.3%) followed by outpatient community pharmacy (23.4%). About 57.8% of pharmacists reported involvement in TOC services. Among respondents, most reported electronic health record (EHR) as their primary method of communication to receive (66.2%) and send (55.5%) information to perform TOC services. Additionally, EHR was reported as the preferred method of communication to receive (75.4%) and send (75.5%) information during TOC. The primary reasons pharmacists reported not utilizing patient health information were lack of information (38.4%), incorrect information (36.7%), delay in receiving information (36.7%), and lack of time (34.5%). Barriers to providing TOC services included poor communication during handoffs (44.2%) and difficulty obtaining needed patient medical information (43.9%). Conclusion This study identified methods and barriers to communication between pharmacists during TOC across healthcare settings. This provides an opportunity for future research to develop interventions to improve communication between pharmacists at different practice settings.

Chronic cough is the most common symptom for which individuals seek medical advice. This health issue has a substantial impact on a person's quality of life and can produce complications such as vomiting, fractures, muscle pain, syncope, and depression. Pharmacists and managed care professionals should recognize the complicated etiology of chronic cough and its difficult management. As there are currently no available therapies specifically indicated for this, the emerging treatment options that are targeted for patients with chronic cough have the promising potential to fulfill unmet needs in this population. They will resolve or minimize the significant burden on healthcare resources, families, work, and school, and improve patients' overall health. Statement of Educational Need Chronic cough is a highly debilitating condition that can result from multiple etiologies or is sometimes due to unknown causes. Further, there are no FDA-approved agents at this time that specifically address chronic cough. Combined with a lack of robust efficacy for agents used to treat acute cough, there is a significant unmet need for efficacious agents that provide relief for patients with chronic cough. To address these concerns, new agents with novel mechanisms of action are in development and, if found safe and effective, could become available in the United States. Therefore, healthcare professionals require continuing professional education and application of this knowledge to improve chronic cough management, clinical decision making, and the quality of life among patients affected. Educational Objectives At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to: • Examine the etiologies of chronic cough, the burden, and the pathophysiology. • Explain the treatment options for chronic cough including the emerging therapies. • Identify opportunities to improve the management of chronic cough from a payer and patient perspective, as well as to integrate new treatments into the existing treatment algorithm. Accreditation Statement Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 3.0 contact hours (0.3 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-20-214-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through October 15, 2021. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Physicians' Education Resource ® , LLC and Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™. Physicians' Education Resource ® , LLC is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Physicians' Education Resource ® , LLC, designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Phys...

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