 Project Destiny
According to initial results of the landmark “Project
Destiny” initiative, community pharmacy can help ensure its
healthcare services beyond dispensing medication are embraced broadly,
if it acts decisively and cooperatively with healthcare industry
stakeholders. Project Destiny is a joint initiative of the
American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the National Association of
Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists
Association (NCPA). Pharmaceutical companies supporting the project
financially included sanofi-aventis, GlaxoSmithKline, Boehringer
Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals and Wyeth.
The stated objective of Project Destiny is to develop a replicable,
scalable, measurable, and economically viable future model for community
pharmacy practice. The project seeks to identify ways that patients and
the healthcare system can benefit from community pharmacy’s
medication expertise, in a way that is economically viable for all
parties. To that end, in Phase I, the groups hired BearingPoint, which
conducted extensive research and interviews with patient and provider
groups, and private and public payers. BearingPoint also led the
intensive analysis of the interview results, as well as the development
of potential next steps for community pharmacy.
Key findings from the report included:
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A significant unmet consumer need to manage medication therapy
exists in the market, as exemplified by increases in chronic conditions
and avoidable healthcare costs.
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A viable market opportunity exists.
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Pharmacists are well positioned to address unmet needs.
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The medication management market is being defined, as community
pharmacy, nurses, physicians, payers and pharmacy benefit managers all
are engaging to some degree.
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Industry stakeholders are interested in assisting pharmacy in the
process of developing service offerings and bringing the services to
market.
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Significant hurdles exist, and these range from the magnitude of
the industry-wide effort, to regulatory restrictions related to
pharmacists and pharmacist extenders, and time constraints on
pharmacists currently.
One key concept that emerged from the first phase of the project is
that of a “primary care pharmacist,” who would work
collaboratively with the healthcare delivery and financing systems and
focus on managing medications, positively impacting health outcomes,
reducing overall healthcare system costs and empowering consumers to
actively manage their health. Putting this concept into practice would
require the development of pharmacy-based Patient Care Management
Services that are interoperable, while maintaining the autonomy of
individual pharmacies. The Patient Care Management Services envisioned
go beyond a narrow definition of medication therapy management and
include interventions targeting 15 conditions plus polypharmacy (the use
of multiple medications by a patient) that drive demand for avoidable
healthcare utilization. Project Destiny would seek to leverage, and not
reinvent, the work of entities already demonstrating value in some
segments.
Project Destiny is anticipated to be a long-term evolution, with
complete strategic implementation. Pharmacy organizations are encouraged
to utilize the report to develop and execute near-term tactics,
including complete plan development with an emphasis on legal and
regulatory considerations, internal communications with members of the
organization, continued dialogue with stakeholders, and identifying
required human and financial resources.
Access to the FULL Report is available to APhA Members. Available
Components include:
Quotes from Leaders:
“Pharmacists make a difference everyday in the lives of
patients that needs to be recognized by the system", according to
John A. Gans, PharmD, APhA Executive Vice President and CEO..
“Phase One of Project Destiny has identified a journey map for
community pharmacy focused on the health care business and value of
pharmacists’ services. The Project has demonstrated a willingness
among stakeholders to collaborate for the benefit of the patient,
utilizing the patientcare services of the pharmacist.”
“The first phase results of Project Destiny provide further
evidence that the government, healthcare stakeholders and pharmacy
itself should look at pharmacy as part of the answer to the
nation’s healthcare questions,” said Steven C. Anderson,
IOM, CAE, NACDS President and CEO. “Instead of facing a
continuing devaluation of pharmacy’s services, we need to be
dentifying and pursuing the ways to maximize the opportunities that they
provide, and that is what Project Destiny is all about.”
“As the healthcare industry evolves and changes, it comes as no
surprise to all of our members that the pharmacist remains integral to
the healthcare system,” said Bruce Roberts, RPh, NCPA Executive
Vice President and CEO. The initial findings in this first phase of
Project Destiny are encouraging and will help all members of the
healthcare community chart a course for success.”
“We will not succeed in our efforts to improve health and save
money without innovative new steps to coordinate care,” said
Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. Director, Engelberg Center for Health
Care Reform; Senior Fellow, Economic Studies; Leonard D. Schaeffer
Director's Chair in Health Policy; Brookings Institution.
“Helping pharmacists work together with physicians, payers, and
other stakeholders is critical to achieving the goal of affordable,
accessible, quality health care.” Dr. McClellan is also the
former administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) and former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
For additional information contact:
- Doug Hoey, Chief Operating Officer, NCPA (Doug.Hoey@ncpanet.org)
- Edith Rosato, Senior Vice President – Pharmacy
Affairs, NACDS (ERosato@NACDS.org)
- Mitchel Rothholz, Chief of Staff, APhA (Mrothholz@aphanet.org)
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