Student Column

When I Flip , you we Flip Flip ,

Crissy Lawson, 2021 PharmD Candidate 2019-2020 Board of Trustees | University of Iowa – Student Pharmacist Representative

What is my pharmacy “why?” The limitless specialization of our healthcare system comes with the significant tradeoff of fragmented care. Our profession is in the best position to unite these fragments, as pharmacists are often the central touchpoint for patients across all specialties. As I think of the future of pharmacy and where I fit in that picture, I am particularly passionate about how we can shape the future of community practice. Lately, I have heard a lot about pharmacies being smothered by PBMs, and additional decreases in staffing while pushing prescription volume. While this seems like a step backward for community pharmacy, the profession is pushing back to propel us forward for the sake of our patients.

Flip the Pharmacy (FtP) is a new practice transformation initiative that uses a scalable model to flip the focus of pharmacy from the “here-andnow” to the “down-the-line.” It is a joint effort funded primarily by the Community Pharmacy Foundation and coordinated through CPESN USA. Pharmacies work collaboratively and with guidance from coaches to focus on six transformation domains. In the beginning stages, the program hopes to achieve outcome-driven goals such as a collective reduction in systolic blood pressure of 1 million mmHg and a 50,000-percentage point A1c reduction. Another focus of the program is standardizing workflow via eCare Plan submissions. The program is highly datadriven, with hopes to have a broad reach of over 5,000 pharmacies in just five years.

The two-year program was kicked off in October 2019 with a cohort of twenty Practice Transformation Teams spanning twenty-seven states and over 500 pharmacies. One of those twenty teams is the Iowa Practice Transformation Team, which consists of thirty pharmacies under the umbrella of CPESN Iowa. As of February 29th, these thirty pharmacies submitted an impressive number of over 10,000 eCare Plans. That represents about 12.5% of submissions from all twenty teams. Over 2,000 of these eCare Plans had documented blood pressure readings, approximately 50% of which were uncontrolled and resulted in patient education and contact with prescribers to optimize therapy.

The pharmacies participating in FtP have taken some very impressive strides. So, what can we do as student pharmacists? First and foremost, we can talk about it. This program is all about collecting data, which is necessary to demonstrate our value to payors, legislators, patients, and colleagues. Second, we can act. As students, residents, and professionals, we can lead initiatives in the pharmacy in preparation for joining the FtP vision. Third, we can get involved in our state pharmacy association. Not only is IPA a proud supporter of the Iowa Practice Transformation Team, but they are here to provide professional capital.

As future leaders of the profession, it is imperative that we work as a team to continue moving community pharmacies in the right direction. What a victory it would be to close our gaps in care by flipping the pharmacy. ■