Implementation and providers' views of a pharmacist clinician on an inpatient infectious diseases consult service at an academic medical center

Cabanilla, M. G.; Anselmo, L. M.; Sosa, N. R.; Ryan, K. L.

Introduction With the ongoing physician shortage in the field of infectious diseases (ID), innovative models to care are needed to satisfy health care requirements, especially as we face the growing demand of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In New Mexico, Pharmacist Clinicians (PhC) are uniquely fitted to aid ID physicians through additional training and licensing that allows for a collaborative practice model. Objectives The primary objective of this study is to describe the integration of a PhC with a rounding ID attending, utilizing an innovative practice model at an academic medical center, and report providers' views as related to this new position. Methods This was a survey study directed toward primary treating teams and ID attendings, conducted after six months of the creation of the PhC position. One survey was designed specifically for primary treating teams and another survey for ID attendings only. Primary team providers were identified through a log kept by the PhC for every patient intervention. All providers were contacted via e-mail using the REDCap system to evaluate the PhC's communication and ID knowledge by answering three to five multiple choice questions. A quantitative method was used for data analysis. Results Sixty-one (56.5%) providers responded to the surveys. Overall, primary team respondents gave a positive valuation of the position. ID attendings also generally approved of the position and had a similar view to that of the primary teams. The PhC was found to be effective by 92.5% of respondents. The lowest scoring area was the physical exam. There was no significant difference when comparing responses between primary teams and ID attendings. Conclusion An inpatient pharmacist clinician is able to manage complex ID patients to the satisfaction of both ID physicians and members of the primary treating teams in an academic medical center.