Implementation of Telemedicine Medication Management Protocol to Improve Medication Management for Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Children in a General Pediatrics Clinic
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2021
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Abstract
In general pediatric offices across the country, frustration with controlled medication refill processes for patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is felt by both parents and healthcare providers. This frustration stems from governmental restrictions on the amounts that can be prescribed at a time as well as office policies on timing on refills. Due to the nature of controlled medications, prescriptions can only be written for 3 months at a time with medication review appointments every 6 months. There are many telephone calls to and from a pediatrics office regarding refills which includes medication side effects, dosing, effectiveness of medications, and pharmacy locations, which, if all information is gathered at one time would decrease the time it takes to refill the medications. The purpose off the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to implement and evaluate a protocol to significantly decrease telephone calls to and from a general pediatrics office regarding controlled medication refills for patients with ADHD. 175 patients were contacted during the 4 months of this protocol implementation. The data used was length of call, how many calls went to and from the office for each patient, who made the call, and any qualitative data from patient caregivers regarding the process. Evaluation of the protocol was completed after the implementation phase for effectiveness, ease of use, and continued use within the clinic. The data was collected on log sheets to track incoming and outgoing calls which ensured that patients who were not on the master list of the clinic were tracked. As a population health project, the primary goal was to improve the medication refill process and minimize interruptions in therapeutic medication management of ADHD symptoms. After the 4-month implementation of this project, there was a significant decrease in the number of calls to and from the clinic with an incidental finding of increased scheduling of medication review appointments in advance. The project was adopted by the clinic due to the promising data of a significant decrease in calls regarding medication refills. With the success of the protocol within a short timeline, the opportunity for application to other specialties is available.
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Adolescents, Rate of ADHD, Cost of ADHD, Telephone management of medications, Pre-visit planning, Primary care needs