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Funding pharmacists in general practice: a feasibility study to inform the design of future economic evaluations
Citation
Kosari, S and Deeks, LS and Naunton, M and Dawda, P and Postma, MJ and Tay, GH and Peterson, GM, Funding pharmacists in general practice: a feasibility study to inform the design of future economic evaluations, Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 17, (5) pp. 1012-1016. ISSN 1551-7411 (2021) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2020 Elsevier
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.07.030
Abstract
Background
Funding is a significant barrier to employing general practice pharmacists.
Objective(s)
To explore the feasibility of determining the cost-benefit of pharmacists in Australian general practice.
Methods
Two part-time pharmacists were employed by general practices in Canberra, Australia. Diaries of the pharmacists were analysed to determine time worked and participation in income-generating activities, including Government-funded programs: Asthma Cycle of Care, Home Medicine Reviews, and Health Care Assessments. Scenarios using different practice and business models were entered into value-cost models to determine the income generated by the pharmacists relative to their salary.
Results
Over 19 weeks, pharmacists A and B supported 47 and 23 Asthma Cycle of Care activities, generating income to the general practice of AU$4,700 and AU$2,300, respectively. The pharmacists spent 36.4 and 24.1 hours on activities usually conducted by general practitioners (GPs), allowing additional time for GP-patient consultations. Value-cost models determined AU$0.61 - AU$1.20 income generation by pharmacists per AU$1 salary.
Conclusions
It was feasible to determine the value-cost ratios of employing pharmacists in general practice using these methods. Future work should focus on developing a robust business model that includes health care system savings resulting from practice pharmacist interventions, determined from randomised controlled trials.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | pharmacists, general practice, general practitioners, primary care, economics |
| Research Division: | Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Health services and systems |
| Research Field: | Primary health care |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Evaluation of health and support services |
| Objective Field: | Evaluation of health outcomes |
| UTAS Author: | Peterson, GM (Professor Gregory Peterson) |
| ID Code: | 141282 |
| Year Published: | 2021 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 1 |
| Deposited By: | Pharmacy |
| Deposited On: | 2020-10-12 |
| Last Modified: | 2021-09-16 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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