A clinical consultant pharmacist from UMass Medical School’s Commonwealth Medicine division will discuss the application of motivational interviewing (MI) to improve patient communication and outcomes at the MTM and Medication Adherence Innovations Summit Oct. 14-16 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Payal Kotadiya, PharmD, BCPS, lead clinical consultant pharmacist for medication therapy management (MTM) programs at Clinical Pharmacy Services, a unit within Commonwealth Medicine, will lead “Motivational Interviewing from Theory to Practice: Engaging the Patient Throughout the Medication Therapy Management Encounter.” The workshop, slated for 3:30 to 5 p.m. Oct. 14, will explain the principles of MI, summarize the effect of MI in health care settings, apply skills for incorporating MI during an MTM encounter, and propose strategies to encourage and sustain MI in MTM encounters within the participants’ organizations.
MTM pharmacists in Clinical Pharmacy Services’ call center apply MI techniques in conversations with patients to identify their readiness to change health-related behaviors and collaborate with them in achieving these changes. It is particularly helpful when determining why patients may be taking their medications improperly, or not at all. The technique enhances the pharmacists’ communication with patients and can make a difference in their health outcomes.
A Clinical Pharmacy Services exhibit at the conference will feature MTM services, which incorporate motivational interviewing. Cheryl Catoggio, BA, BS, RPh, director of quality assurance; Timothy Cummins, MBA, BS, RPh, executive director; and Bonnie Greenwood, PharmD, BCPS, clinical program director, will be available to discuss these services.
The conference will examine the methods health plans are using to improve medication adherence among complex populations, and the MTM strategies that are helping improve outcomes and member engagement.