Abstract
Purpose
Nationally, completion of Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) is associated with better management of chronic diseases, lower hospitalization rates, and improvement of health outcomes, but utilization of AWV services has been relatively low locally at our institution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate provider perceptions surrounding barriers or challenges that affect AWV completion rates locally.
Design
Semi-structured qualitative interviews.
Setting
Providers from one geriatric clinic and two internal medicine clinics were interviewed virtually or in-person.
Participants
19 providers (13 attending physicians, 1 nurse practitioner, and 5 resident physicians).
Methods
Interviews were recorded, and AI-generated transcripts were created. Transcripts were analyzed, coded inductively, and categorized thematically.
Results
Six over-arching themes emerged which highlighted: perceived value and purpose of AWVs, barriers that affect implementation, interventions for effective facilitation, and thoughts surrounding pharmacist-led AWVs.
Conclusion
Providers believed that the process for completing AWVs was complex and time-consuming, and many thought they offered limited value for older patients with more acute healthcare needs. Opinions on pharmacist-led AWVs were divided in the provider groups interviewed: those with experience appreciated a team-based effort to reduce clinic burden while those without exposure were uncertain that some AWV components are within a pharmacist’s scope of practice.
Keywords
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.