(1234) Pharmacist Integration in Outpatient Psychiatry Services at a College Health Center

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to assess patient satisfaction with pharmacist care and provider perceptions of collaboration with pharmacists in an outpatient psychiatry clinic. A secondary objective is to quantify financial impact of pharmacist integration in an outpatient psychiatry clinic. Many studies in the last two decades have shown the benefit of interprofessional pharmacist collaboration. Limited research exists discussing the benefits of pharmacist collaboration in a psychiatric setting, specifically in outpatient psychiatry. Pharmacists are ideally positioned and uniquely qualified to manage psychiatric medications following diagnosis from a psychiatrist. Only four states in the country have advanced practice designations for pharmacists. In North Carolina, a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner is a licensed individual who practices as a mid-level practitioner under a supervising provider. There are four pharmacists currently integrated within our outpatient psychiatric clinic: two Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Community-based Pharmacy Residents and two Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners. Each pharmacist manages medication therapy, in addition to assisting with patient messages, communicating with pharmacies, and submitting prior authorizations.

Methods: This cross-sectional study will be conducted at an outpatient psychiatry services clinic in a college health center located on the campus of a large, public university in North Carolina. Two questionnaires will be developed via the online survey platform, Qualtrics, and distributed via email to patients or providers. Patients are eligible for inclusion if they are 18 years of age or older and have been seen for a medication management appointment with a pharmacist from August 1, 2023, to October 31, 2023. The patient questionnaire will include five required items related to their satisfaction with care, confidence in care, and awareness of pharmacist education and training. Demographics will not be collected for patients. All medication management providers within the clinic are eligible for inclusion. The provider questionnaire will include five required items related to each of the services that pharmacists provide, and one optional, free response question. Both surveys will be pilot tested with a small sample of student pharmacists and pharmacists for feedback on question structure and content. The surveys will be open for 30 days, with a reminder email sent at day 15. Participation will be voluntary and confidential. A report with eligible visits occurring from August 1, 2023, to October 31, 2023 will be extracted from the electronic health record. Financial analysis will be estimated using reimbursement rates from local payers (Current Procedural Terminology code 99213). Descriptive statistics will be used for analysis.

Results: Institutional Review Board approval is anticipated in October 2023. Preliminary analysis indicates that five providers and fifty patients are eligible for inclusion. Surveys will be distributed in November 2023. Financial data will be exported in November 2023. Data analysis will occur in December 2023.

Conclusions: There is limited data regarding pharmacist impact in an outpatient psychiatry clinic in the college health setting. Patient and provider satisfaction, as well as financial impact, can provide evidence to support continued pharmacist integration at this site. Results may help to define elements of care that should be continued, as they are perceived as beneficial to patients and providers, while generating finances for the practice.