Impact of a Pharmacist-Run Electronic Consult Service in a Network of Primary Care Patient-Centered Medical Homes

Abstract

Background: Electronic consults (eConsults) allow for asynchronous, consultative, provider-to-provider communication. A pharmacy run eConsult service was initiated in a group of primary care clinics composed of 60 attending internal medicine primary care physicians (PCP), 100 internal medicine residents, and 10 pharmacists serving more than 60,000 patients. This study aims to describe (1) the number and types of eConsults placed to pharmacists; (2) the number of eConsults completed, converted to an office visit, or declined by a pharmacist; (3) the number of pharmacist recommendations made and implemented within 30 days of eConsult placement; and (4) PCP perceptions of the eConsult service.Design: A retrospective chart review of all pharmacy eConsults placed between February 25, 2020, and July 6, 2021, was completed to describe eConsult utilization. In addition, an electronic survey was used to assess attending physician perceptions of pharmacy eConsults.Results: A total of 513 eConsults were placed during the study period. The most common type of eConsult placed was "cost savings/formulary med questions" (110, 21.4%). Of the 435 eConsults completed by a pharmacist, 339 (78%) eConsults resulted in specific recommendations for medication therapy and 332 (98%) of these recommendations were implemented by the PCP. A total of 17 PCPs completed the survey assessing the perceived benefits of pharmacy eConsults. The top perceived benefits were improvement in patient outcomes (15, 88%) and ability to save provider time spent on patient care (14, 82%).Conclusions: eConsults to pharmacists resulted in specific drug therapy recommendations that were routinely implemented by PCPs and perceived as a benefit to both providers and patients.