Pharmacists as Advocates: How the MIP Model Supports Access, Adherence, and Outcomes

Cox,Austin;Reff,Michael;

Key Takeaways

Medically integrated pharmacies (MIPs) enhance collaboration between pharmacists and healthcare providers, improving patient care for complex therapies like oncology and rare diseases.
MIPs provide personalized, patient-centered care by integrating pharmacy services within healthcare settings, ensuring seamless communication and timely interventions.
Advanced health information technology in MIPs supports data sharing and coordinated care, improving medication management and patient outcomes.
The MIP model empowers patients with tools and guidance, enhancing adherence, satisfaction, and overall well-being, especially for those managing complex therapies.

Medically integrated pharmacies improve collaboration, patient care, communication, and therapy management.

When looking at the implications of limited distribution drugs and rare disease drugs, it is important to discuss pharmacy models that can better support patients in navigating drug distribution networks. Patients do not know the variations they may encounter in having to fill prescriptions differently unless they have already experienced it. A patient-centric approach keeps individual perspectives and needs at the forefront and is imperative whenever looking at the best options.

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A medically integrated pharmacy (MIP) is a pharmacy model with access to the electronic medical record (EMR). Its staff and workflows are fully embedded within the practice, be it a community or health system setting. The record number of new FDA-approved oral medications with oncology indications has catalyzed tremendous adoption of the MIP model over the past decade, with other specialized fields now mirroring this structure. Integrating MIPs allows seamless collaboration between the pharmacy team and health care providers, fostering a more coordinated and comprehensive approach to patient care.

Key Characteristics of MIPs

Collaboration between health care providers: The pharmacy team collaborates closely with physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals within the same practice or health system. This collaboration ensures that pharmacists are directly involved in patient care decisions, such as medication selection, dosing adjustments, and monitoring for adverse effects (AEs), while supporting prescription fulfillment and helping patients navigate the complexities of specialty medication access and affordability.
Patient-centered care: MIPs are designed to provide personalized care tailored to each patient’s needs. Pharmacists in these settings have access to patients’ complete medical records, allowing them to offer more informed recommendations and closely monitor therapy adherence and outcomes while sharing critical pharmacy information with the extended health care team.
Enhanced communication: Because the pharmacy is integrated into the health care setting, communication between the pharmacy team and other providers is more efficient, with options for direct face-to-face interactions and communication within the EMR. This integration reduces the risk of errors, ensures timely interventions, and enhances the overall quality of care.
Specialized services: MIPs often focus on complex therapies, including those for rare diseases such as molecular-targeted agents. For such therapies, the pharmacy team brings expertise in procurement, benefits investigation, and prior authorization submission. The team also plays a key role in securing financial support through resources available from manufacturers and charitable foundations. With specialized training and extensive experience with these therapies, the team offers comprehensive medication education and effective AE management strategies.
Proactive patient management: Pharmacists in an MIP play an active role in managing patients’ medication regimens. They help patients incorporate new therapies alongside existing medications and establish a trusted relationship that allows for open dialogue. Their work includes regularly assessing therapy effectiveness, managing AEs with dosing holds and modifications, and ensuring continued adherence to prescribed treatments.
Integrated technology: MIPs often utilize advanced health information technology systems that link pharmacy operations with the broader health care team’s EMRs. This integration supports better data sharing, real-time access to patient information, and more coordinated care.

Overall, the MIP model aims to improve patient outcomes by ensuring that pharmacists are integral care team members, providing a more holistic, collaborative approach to medication management. This is especially critical for therapies that have AEs requiring clinical interventions. Pharmacists can empower patients to recognize symptoms, report issues, and stay engaged in their care with frequent touchpoints, ensuring timely refills and monitoring overall progress throughout their treatment.

About the Authors

Austin Cox, PharmD, is senior director of trade relations at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute in Birmingham, Alabama.

Michael Reff, MBA, RPh, is executive director and founder of NCODA in Cazenovia, New York.

The MIP model stands out as a solution in patient-centered pharmacy care, offering unmatched support for individuals managing complex therapies. By fully integrating pharmacists into the care team, MIPs provide patients with a seamless, cohesive approach that fosters better outcomes, improves adherence, and strengthens overall patient satisfaction. This model enhances clinical oversight and personalized support and empowers patients with the tools and guidance they need to stay engaged in their treatment journey. For those facing the challenges of cancer or rare diseases, the MIP model delivers an essential layer of care, reinforcing our commitment to prioritizing patients’ well-being at every step. For health care providers, it is essential to keep patient needs as the focus—any other focus risks undermining the quality and effectiveness of the care we strive to provide.