Drug Topics - December 10, 2007 - (Page HSE1)

www.drugtopics.com DECEMBER 10, 2007 DRUG TOPICS HSE 1 R.Ph.s’ prescribing impact to reach $145 billion by 2012 Reid Paul D o pharmacists have an Rx impact? Yes, and it’s Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies have also taken growing, according to a recent analysis from Kalo- the lead in allowing pharmacists more say on prescriptions. rama Information, a market research firm. Accord- “The government has been doing this for a long time,” Eling to the study, “Prescribing Pharmacists: An Emerging der noted. “With that as a model, it makes it easier for the Decision Maker,” pharmacists already directly influence a private sector to follow.” whopping $70 billion through direct prescribing, impactInterestingly, although pharmacists already wield a siging a drug selection, or other aspects of the drug delivery nificant impact on prescribing patterns, drug companies process. Spurred by the increased use of collaborative prac- have been slow to recognize their clout. Drug company tices and the increased role of pharmacists in hospitals and representatives were the least knowledgeable about what is government agencies, that impact is expected to double to going on, Elder lamented. “They tend not to hit the retail $145 billion by 2012 as retail pharmacists follow suit. sector quite as hard for marketing.” At this time, 23% of drug purchase decisions are influPharmacist prescribing is also growing abroad. State enced by a pharmacist, and over the next five years that boards of pharmacy are paying attention to international percentage is expected to rise to 37%. Much of that shift, experiments with pharmacist prescribing. In April, Alberta argues Melissa Elder, a market analyst for Kalorama and au- became the third Canadian province to permit pharmacist thor of the study, will be driven by direct pharmacist pre- prescribing. In addition, pharmacists in Australia, New scribing. Currently, Florida is the only state to allow phar- Zealand, and the United Kingdom have independent premacist prescribing outside of a collaborative practice, but in scribing powers. the next five years, Elder estimates, as many as six more “Pharmacists are trained to counsel and recognize sympstates will allow pharmacists to prescribe. toms for many chronic conditions,” Elder argued. “If pharThe study’s conclusions were drawn after more than 200 macists have access to lab work, they can make recommeninterviews with state legislators, pharmacy boards, pharma- dations on diabetes, cholesterol, and other chronic ceutical company executives, key physicians, and other conditions.” healthcare experts. Moving refills and other For hospitals and other Pharmacists’ influence in maintenance prescriptions to inpatient facilities, these drug selection pharmacists should both rechanges will, of course, have duce costs and improve paSales/pharmacists influence little impact. Many facilitient satisfaction, Elder beties—especially those on the lieves. “It cuts down on time West Coast—have already in physician offices and on instituted protocol-based costs—the main factors drivcollaborative practices and ing this appeal,” Elder said. seen significant growth in the Not surprisingly, the input of pharmacists on prebiggest factors inhibiting the scribing practices. move toward pharmacist According to Elder, 43 prescribing are concerns states now allow collaborafrom physicians. Some doctive health management betors worry that pharmacists tween physicians and pharare not sufficiently trained macists. Typically these for diagnosis; others, howpractices are in hospitals and ever, hope it will free them other inpatient facilities, and up to spend more time with the results look promising. patients. DT http://www.drugtopics.com http://www.drugtopics.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - December 10, 2007

Drug Topics - December 10, 2007 Latebreakers Latebreakers in Depth Letters Health-System Edition - Cover Story Clinical Practice Professional Practice Special Report Technology Community Practice Unraveling Medicare 150 Years of American Pharmacy Rx Care In the Pipeline Cover Story: Fair or foul? Self-Care Chains and Business Government and Law Continuing Education: Natural Medicines for Bone Health New Products Advertisers Index Classified Viewpoint

Drug Topics - December 10, 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.