Science and Practice
Advances in Pharmacy Practice
Optimizing medication use through a synergistic technology testing process integrating implementation science to drive effectiveness and facilitate scale

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Abstract

Objectives

1) To describe a synergistic technology testing process (STTP) that integrates traditional technology assessment with implementation science principles to drive uptake, enhance outcomes, and facilitate scaling of medication optimization health information technology solutions; and 2) to illustrate the application of the STTP using an example that involves designing and testing a medication therapy problem (MTP) platform for use by pharmacists in primary care.

Summary

Optimizing medication services requires supportive technologies that have been fully tested before release. Current testing approaches are not sufficient to produce the information needed to accelerate uptake and drive impact. Implementation science principles can supplement the traditional testing process by broadening its focus to include designing a truly usable technology, attending to contextual influences, studying the implementation process, and assessing the technology for its scalability. The STTP is an early attempt at outlining the integration of traditional technology testing with implementation science for pharmacy practice.

Conclusion

The potential impact of technology-supported medication optimization solutions to improve patient outcomes, enhance quality of care, and reduce costs could be substantial. Accelerating uptake, driving impact, and facilitating scaling will require innovative testing paradigms that result in evidence-based technologies that can feasibly be implemented in real-world settings.

Section snippets

A synergistic technology testing process—Overview

Implementation science principles and methods should be integrated with the testing process that occurs throughout the life cycle of a technology, from development and design to commercialization. Figure 1 depicts the combined technology testing process, the STTP, which includes the traditional types of technology testing with the recommended implementation science processes. It also lists the expected benefits associated with this combined approach along the product development life cycle.

Testing a medication therapy problem platform: An applied example

The following example is used to illustrate the application of the proposed STTP. Although this example is not a true case study, it was created by combining experiences from two initiatives at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Eshelman School of Pharmacy. In this instance, an academic team of researchers, clinicians, and HIT employees developed a web-based platform to document and facilitate identification of medication therapy problems (MTPs). The tool was designed for use by clinical

Conclusion

Optimizing medication services requires the development of supportive technologies that have been empirically tested before release. Payers, health care systems, provider organizations, and end users are expecting these HIT solutions to seamlessly integrate with current workflows and produce the desired benefits and outcomes. Although these technologies are typically subjected to traditional technology testing, current research indicates that this approach, though necessary, is not sufficient

Melanie Livet, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Implementation Scientist, Center for Medication Optimization, Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

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    Jon Easter, BSPharm, Professor of the Practice and Director, Center for Medication Optimization, Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

    Disclosure: Neither author declares any potential conflict of interest.

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