Impact of Clinical Pharmacist-Led Non-Oncology Infusion Management

Research presented at 2024 ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition examined the operational and financial impact of a pharmacist-led non-oncology infusion therapy management protocol implemented for patients with rheumatic disorders. The protocol, initiated in 2019, aimed to address the complexities of infusion therapies, an area with limited evidence on the role of clinical pharmacists. The study, conducted from January 2022 to December 2024, analyzed data from a single health system to evaluate the protocol's effects on infusion administration delays, provider time savings, and associated revenue. 

The study used a retrospective, descriptive, observational design, excluding data from 2020 and 2021 due to the confounding effects of COVID-19. The main focus was on the impact of the pharmacist-led ordering protocol, which was implemented under a collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM) framework. Infusion orders and operational data were extracted from the electronic medical records (EMR) to assess pre- and postimplementation outcomes. 

Results showed that, before the protocol, the rheumatology clinic ordered an average of 1350 infusions per year for 250 patients. However, 130 appointments lacked infusion orders at patient check-in, causing an average wait time of 2.5 hours. After the protocol was implemented, 85% of all infusion orders were placed by clinical pharmacists, and 100% of these orders were placed at least 24 hours before the infusion. This eliminated waiting times and improved bed occupancy at the infusion center. The protocol also saved an average of 30 hours of provider time per month, enabling providers to see more patients and generating an estimated revenue or cost savings of $0.4 million annually. 

Overall, the study demonstrated that a pharmacist-led infusion management protocol under CDTM not only improved workflow efficiency but also reduced wait times, increased provider productivity, and generated revenue opportunities for the health system. 

Reference 

Schneidmuller DY. Impact of clinical pharmacist-led non-oncology infusion management in tertiary academic medical center rheumatology clinic. Presented at: ASHP Midyear 2024 Clinical Meeting and Exhibition; December 9, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana.