Community Pharmacy–Based Adherence Programs and the Role of Pharmacy Technicians

Abstract

Objective: To increase pharmacy technician awareness of medication nonadherence enabling them to identify opportunities to participate in the provision of community pharmacy–based adherence programs. Data Sources: Articles were identified through searches of MEDLINE/PubMed (1950 through December 2014) using the following search terms: “adherence,” “role of technicians,” “community adherence programs,” “adherence and technician’s role,” “medication synchronization,” “retail pharmacy adherence programs,” and “CMS Star Ratings.” Additionally, resources on adherence programs were used from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the American Pharmacists Association, and the Food and Drug Administration. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Articles describing community pharmacy adherence programs, the role of pharmacy technicians in providing these services, and medication synchronization were included. Data Synthesis: Nonadherence to medications creates a burden in terms of patient health and leads to high health care costs to the patients, providers, and insurers. Initiatives on pharmacist-led adherence programs have proven to reduce these overall health care–related costs. Pharmacy technicians can have an active role in the management of these adherence programs to reduce the burden on community pharmacists who are running adherence programs. Pharmacy technicians can be responsible for gathering medication histories, organizing patient medication lists, making appointment calls to schedule patients, collecting patient demographic history, conducting follow-up calls, and in promoting the program overall. Conclusions: Pharmacy technicians are a valuable asset to the community pharmacists in the process of running adherence programs, and they can work with the pharmacists to coordinate and promote community pharmacy–based medication adherence programs.