Flip The Pharmacy
Loren Bonner
Pharmacies all across the nation are undergoing transformation. For some of these pharmacies, the transformation is being sought out.
This fall marked the second year of Flip the Pharmacy, a practice-based effort to demonstrate that community pharmacies can deliver patient care services with data-driven outcomes.
The ultimate goal is to establish a value-based reimbursement model.
The first year of Flip the Pharmacy just wrapped up, with more than 500 participating pharmacies in Cohort 1. Now, the program is adding Cohort 2 pharmacies, which will bring the total number of pharmacies to over 900. All are part of the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN) USA, a network of high-performing pharmacies clustered together by state or region.
“This program has been in the making for such a long time,” said Cody Clifton, PharmD, one of Flip the Pharmacy’s transformation leads who is also director of practice transformation and clinical programs for CPESN USA. Flip the Pharmacy leaders have found through testimonials from participating pharmacies that they are not only improving pharmacy practice but also improving satisfaction—professionally and personally—for pharmacists and pharmacy staff, according to Clifton.
More than filling a prescription
The 2-year program, founded by the Community Pharmacy Foundation (CPF), gives participating pharmacies four disease states to focus on throughout the duration of the program. According to Clifton, pharmacies will apply lessons from those clinical areas to other health conditions.
Using monthly change packages, or implementation guides, pharmacy practice transformation coaches work with pharmacy teams on six transformation domains (see graphic) with an emphasis on patient care planning using documentation in an eCare plan.
In the first year, pharmacies focused on hypertension, opioid stewardship, and also COVID-19. Going into the second year, pharmacies will dive into immunizations.
“This program gives [pharmacists] a moment to step back and see that they are doing more than filling prescriptions,” said Clifton.
In one example from Clifton’s own experience, he was able to use the appointment-based model with a patient who had just been discharged from the hospital. Evaluating her blood pressure numbers and medications, he realized she was in a position to be back in the hospital.
“I’m wondering how this happened,” said Clifton. “I’m no longer the person dispensing her medication; I’m now her care coordinator.”
Importance of med sync
Clifton said the change packages help pharmacists—as well as nonpharmacist staff members—realize they have the tools and knowledge to help patients. “But that’s not possible unless you are controlling your own workflow,” said Clifton. “If you don’t have 30% of your patients in med sync, you can’t provide that kind of care as easily. This model is about the pharmacy staff being able to control the pharmacy’s workflow in order to provide this level of care.”
CPF provides funding for the program. Pharmacies that want to participate apply in the fall, and those that are not selected can still participate through self-funding, with another funding source, or by simply following along. All pharmacies can view program materials at www.flipthepharmacy.com.