Pharmacists deliver better patient care when they have access to' medical records.

What is it about?

Community Pharmacists typically don't have access to basic patient health-related information, such as diagnosed conditions, laboratory values and assessments. How are pharmacists supposed to deliver good care when they don't have basic patient information? In this study, we see if pharmacists are better able to deliver more effective care when they have access to primary care medical records.

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Why is it important?

Pharmacists are trained doctors in medication, are drug experts and are the most accessible healthcare provider. They attend 8 years of schooling, plus 1-3 years of post-graduate residency and fellowship. However, their services, according to the CDC are underutilized. Community pharmacists are particularly underutilized because they often do not have the information available on which to base their clinical decisions. In this study, we show that pharmacists are able to better detect medication related problems and gaps in preventative care when they review patients' medical records. This study is more evidence that pharmacists should engage in health information exchange like other health entities like hospitals and primary care offices.