As providers aim to compete in a new business context, they seek partners whose data and services can increase care coordination and effectively manage disease. Partnerships with pharmacies are one viable approach.
In a Harvard Business Review article, William H. Shrank, MD, senior vice president, chief scientific officer and CMO of Health Systems Alliances for CVS Health, wrote "retail pharmacies play a critical role in that effort — a view confirmed by our experience in over 60 health system partnerships across the United States."
According to Dr. Shrank, those relationships build on four principles of population health management.
1. Health happens outside of the physician's office. The vast majority of healthcare costs involve managing patients with chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and asthma. Those patients must manage their health between visits to their physician's office through diet and exercise, as well as medication adherence.
Pharmacists are trained on medications and they also have direct access to real-time data on patients' medication use. Through partnerships with retail pharmacies, health systems have the opportunity to better promote medication adherence, thereby contributing to better health in between physician visits, according to Dr. Shrank.
2. Medication adherence requires teamwork. Lack of understanding of the treatment, cultural beliefs, drug costs, therapy complexity and cognitive and logistical challenges all contribute to patients failing to adhere to their medication regimens. To combat this, team-based, multifaceted strategies are required.
Examples of such strategies include many CVS Health has invested in, including: a refill synchronization program and multi-dose packaging to help patients reduce the number of trips to the pharmacy; motivational interviewing techniques when counseling patients; high-touch specialty services, such as phone support; the ability to direct message healthcare providers' EMRs when patients neglect to fill or refill a prescription; and support for patients' family members in their caregiving roles.
3. In population health, data rules. A lack of access to pharmacy data is a blind spot for hospitals and health systems, according to Dr. Shrank. Partnering with a retail pharmacy enables healthcare providers to access such data, enabling them to improve medication adherence.
4. Retail healthcare complements health systems. According to Dr. Shrank, studies show retail clinics deliver high-quality care at low costs for the services they deliver, including care for sore throats, ear infections and urinary tract infections. Retail clinics are open during the evenings and on the weekends, when a trip to the emergency room might be the only other option. These cites of care are also becoming valuable providers of preventive services, such as vaccinations and counseling for smoking cessation and weight loss, according to Dr. Shrank.