APhA Foundation Releases Appointment Based Model White Paper and Tool Kit
September 24, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation today published the first white paper
on the Appointment Based Model (ABM), a pharmacists’ patient care model that improves medication adherence, along
with a corresponding implementation tool kit. Each patient enrolled in the ABM has a designated appointment day to pick
up all medications. Pharmacy staff call patients in advance of their appointment to identify any changes to the medications
and confirm that each prescription should be refilled. The model can be implemented in any pharmacy setting to improve
patients’ medication adherence, to build efficiency into pharmacy workflow, and to manage potential issues before the
patient arrives at the pharmacy to pick up their medicines.
“The ABM strengthens the relationship between patients and their pharmacies, which empowers pharmacy staff to assure
patients are adherent to the medications they are prescribed,” says Benjamin Bluml, the APhA Foundation’s Senior Vice
President for Research and Innovation. “‘Pharmacy’s Appointment Based Model’ white paper and tool kit are designed to
highlight the benefits of the ABM and provide a plan to systematically integrate the model into the workflow of any
interested pharmacy.”
The white paper was developed from the consensus formed at a consortium meeting hosted by the APhA Foundation on
January 9-10, 2013 in Washington, DC. Consortium members represented 11 community pharmacies or pharmacy
networks, three national organizations and two government agencies. Six of the participants were affiliated with
organizations that have already implemented the ABM and demonstrated positive outcomes that support the need for
further development of the model. The paper contains evidence of the efficacy of the model from pilot implementations
across the country, as well as testimonials from pharmacists who have incorporated the ABM into their workflow.
The implementation tool kit, enhanced from a compilation of documents created by the Alliance for Patient Medication
Safety, provides step by step instructions for any pharmacy to integrate the ABM into its operations. Generating
management support, resource requirements, patient recruitment plans, data monitoring, and technology integration are
among the topics covered. The tool kit also includes customizable templates for patient monitoring, prescriber outreach,
and other essential components of the ABM.
Beginning in 2013, the APhA Foundation will conduct a demonstration and research project to evaluate the efficacy of the
ABM in a Federally Qualified Health Center and a community pharmacy chain in Arizona in partnerships with a local
accountable care organization. The white paper and tool kit will be utilized to design and operationalize the model.
About the American Pharmacists Association Foundation
The APhA Foundation is affiliated with the American Pharmacists Association, the national professional society of
pharmacists in the U.S. The APhA Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., works to design
solutions to medication use problems in America. The APhA Foundation’s mission is to improve people’s health through
pharmacists’ patient care services. For more information, please visit the APhA Foundation website
www.aphafoundation.org.
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