• Maral Semerjian, Melissa J Durham, Edith Mirzaian, Mimi Lou, and Steven H Richeimer.
• School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
• Pain Pract. 2019 Mar 1; 19 (3): 303-309.

PurposeTo describe a model of clinical pharmacy services as part of a multidisciplinary specialty pain clinic by discussing (1) the role of a clinical pharmacist in a specialty setting, including clinical interventions implemented, and (2) how integration of a clinical pharmacist may translate into an improved patient care model for the management of chronic pain.MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted of pharmacist visits from October 1, 2013, to September 30, 2015, in a specialty pain clinic at an academic medical center in Los Angeles, California. Data were collected regarding medication-related problems (MRPs) identified by the pharmacist, interventions implemented to resolve the MRPs, and types of medication care coordination activities (MCCAs) performed by the pharmacist, such as responding to medication refill requests and insurance issues. Descriptive statistics were used. Institutional review board approval was obtained prior to initiating the study.ResultsAt least 1 MRP was identified in 98.7% of the 380 visits. Problems identified by the clinical pharmacist were divided into 5 categories: medication refills needed (43%), medication appropriateness/effectiveness (18%), miscellaneous (17%), safety (16%), and nonadherence/patient variables (6%). Interventions focused on referral to appropriate providers, medication counseling, medication initiation, dose adjustment, and medication discontinuation. The most common MCCA was responding to refill requests.ConclusionA clinical pharmacist can identify many MRPs and implement interventions in chronic pain management. Integration of clinical pharmacy services may improve practice management by facilitating the completion of MCCAs and increase access to patients' needs outside the clinic.© 2018 World Institute of Pain.

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