Keeping up the pace – Pharmacy technician successes in rapid access atrial fibrillation clinic management.

Abstract

Background: In 2022, a large regional health service implemented a rapid access atrial fibrillation clinic led through the pharmacy department. There was 0.6 pharmacist FTE included, which was split into 0.4 FTE for pharmacist and 0.4 technician FTE. This split was based on previous research demonstrating technician utilization in managing pharmacist clinics. The technician’s role involved referral and bookings management, as well as research assistance with the implementation phase. Objective: Implement a rapid access atrial fibrillation clinic with the aim of achieving 14-day turn around on referral-to-review by a pharmacist-physician team. Action: After a referral was received, patients were called to be booked in for a pharmacist telehealth appointment and an on-site physician appointment. Appointment details were then entered into a database. The technician also performed a research assistant role and was responsible for managing the database, which included quality of life assessments, consumer experience feedback through net promoter score assessments, and data integrity checks of the database. Evaluation: From April 2022 to November 2023, the rapid access atrial fibrillation clinic received 312 individual referrals, booked 274 appointments for the pharmacist and 476 appointments for the physician. The average time to first appointment was reduced from 19 days in 2022 to 14 days in 2023. Follow up surveys were completed by the technician in 57% of patients (156/274). Experience with the service at 60 days post clinic scored an average of 9.06 out of 10 (95%CI 8.81-9.30). Discussion: The technician was vital to the project team in coordinating rapid access appointments and achieving rapid access targets. Furthermore, the technician’s role as a research assistant expands on current scope of practice for technicians. Technician-led clinic management has been extended to other outpatient clinics and recognition of the clinic technician as a senior member of the clinical support team.