100 MTM Tips for the Pharmacist

What is MTM anyway?

MTM is the new "buzzword" in expanded roles for pharmacists. It's shorthand for Medication Therapy Management.

The MTM concept is nothing really new - most of us have been doing this sort of thing for our entire careers. What is new is the fact that Medicare has recognized MTM is reimbursable, and pharmacists can finally get paid for providing this valuable patient care service.

Pharmacists who are just now getting involved in MTM can learn from other practitioners who are reaching their patients and providing needed help managing medications. They can also learn about the kinds of services others have found to be truly effective. Innovative pharmacists are always looking for tips from successful practices and practitioners.

It's only fitting that MTM was one of the hottest of hot topics at the annual meeting of the American Pharmacists Association earlier this month in San Antonio. A new APhA publication, "100 MTM Tips for the Pharmacist", was showcased. I'm especially pleased with the booklet, which was authored by Marsha K Millonig, BPharm, MBA, a registered pharmacist. (I have a 1st edition copy signed by the author!) This booklet is available for sale to anyone - APhA member or not.

Marsha put out a call to the APhA membership for tips and comments on "What Works" in MTM and picked the 100 that she deemed worthy of inclusion. Three of those 100 Tips were mine!

Tip #24 - Provide a Medication Reminder Service for High-Risk NonCompliant Patients.
Obviously, I recommend OnTimeRx Automated Reminder Services. It's "my baby" and I raised it from a seed of an idea to be a valuable service to others. We have worked with professionals at transplant clinics and AIDS specialty pharmacies to provide reminders for those high-risk patients. I know the system works from first hand experience.

The success rate of any transplant facility depends on patient compliance; and if big pharma were inspired to provide a reminder service for organ recipients, it would provide major benefits - some subtle and some not-so-subtle. Better compliance can assure that more organs are available for the thousands on waiting lists. That's not subtle at all!

Newly-transplanted patients have to learn to cope with sudden and drastic changes in their newly "drug dependent" lives. That's not subtle either! But this simple reminder service could help them manage their very complex drug regimens more easily, which is especially critical during the early months after surgery.

I can't think of a more perfect example of a vitally needed MTM service for a high-risk patient. Maybe someday... in a more perfect world!

I'll tell you more about Tip# 71 and #87 in future posts.