Courtney Whitfield
Evaluating Provider Satisfaction with the Role of Clinical Pharmacists in Delivering Chronic Care Management Services within an Accountable Care Organization
Courtney Whitfield is a PGY1 community-based pharmacy resident with UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Realo Drugs in New Bern, NC.
“Chronic care management (CCM) involves coordinating care for patients with multiple chronic conditions outside of regular office visits. Realo Drugs, an independent pharmacy located in eastern North Carolina, collaborates with a local accountable care organization to provide CCM services. This study will evaluate providers' perceptions of the current CCM program to identify areas of improvement and better align pharmacist roles with healthcare demands, ultimately enhancing patient care and system efficiency.
My motivation for this project arises from my commitment to enhancing patient care and improving health outcomes in rural areas. By gathering feedback from healthcare providers regarding the role of clinical pharmacists in delivering CCM services, I aim to identify strengths and areas for improvement in our current chronic care management workflow. This approach will enable us to more effectively address the evolving needs of both patients and providers, ensuring that we continue to deliver the highest quality of care.
I am most excited to see how the findings from this research enhance collaboration between pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, which is essential for optimizing chronic care management. Understanding providers’ perceptions can help tailor pharmacist roles to better support their workflows and facilitate smoother transitions of care. Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to a more efficient healthcare system that prioritizes comprehensive, patient-centered care and leverages the unique capabilities of pharmacists.”