{"title":"Paediatric-Pharmacy Shared Care Improves Access and Efficiency in Developmental Paediatrics.","authors":"Jasmine Ucas, Ian Hughes, Danielle J Borg, Olivia Holland, Karyn Reynolds, Angela Owens","doi":"10.1111/jpc.70589","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Rising prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), has increased demand for developmental paediatric services. Ongoing medication review requirements place increasing pressure on paediatrician-led models. Pharmacist-led shared care may improve capacity and access; however, evidence in paediatric outpatient settings remains limited.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the impact of a paediatric-pharmacy shared-care model on wait times, service capacity and efficiency compared with medical-only care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a two-phase observational study. Phase 1 retrospectively analysed service activity from 2019 to 2024, including patient numbers, occasions of service, wait times, failure-to-attend rates, and financial outcomes. Phase 2 prospectively audited 100 pharmacist-led consultations to characterise clinical activities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patient numbers increased by 87%, and the proportion receiving pharmacist-led shared care rose from 4.1% to 25.3%. Pharmacy clinics had shorter wait times than medical clinics (1.84 vs. 7.64 months; p < 0.001). Following transition to shared care, median medical occasions decreased from 3 to 2 while total occasions increased from 3 to 5 (both p < 0.001). Pharmacy clinics demonstrated greater revenue efficiency (revenue-to-cost ratio 2.97 vs. 1.73). Pharmacists conducted comprehensive medication reviews including medication counselling, adherence assessment, and non-pharmacological support within a supervised framework.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The paediatric-pharmacy shared-care model was associated with shorter wait times, greater cost-efficiency, and redistribution of routine medication reviews to pharmacists, with increased overall review frequency despite fewer medical appointments per patient. Pharmacist reviews were comprehensive and delivered within a supervised framework. These findings support pharmacist-led shared care as a scalable strategy to improve access and workforce capacity in developmental paediatrics.</p>","PeriodicalId":16648,"journal":{"name":"Journal of paediatrics and child health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of paediatrics and child health","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.70589","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PEDIATRICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Rising prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), has increased demand for developmental paediatric services. Ongoing medication review requirements place increasing pressure on paediatrician-led models. Pharmacist-led shared care may improve capacity and access; however, evidence in paediatric outpatient settings remains limited.
Aim: To evaluate the impact of a paediatric-pharmacy shared-care model on wait times, service capacity and efficiency compared with medical-only care.
Methods: We conducted a two-phase observational study. Phase 1 retrospectively analysed service activity from 2019 to 2024, including patient numbers, occasions of service, wait times, failure-to-attend rates, and financial outcomes. Phase 2 prospectively audited 100 pharmacist-led consultations to characterise clinical activities.
Results: Patient numbers increased by 87%, and the proportion receiving pharmacist-led shared care rose from 4.1% to 25.3%. Pharmacy clinics had shorter wait times than medical clinics (1.84 vs. 7.64 months; p < 0.001). Following transition to shared care, median medical occasions decreased from 3 to 2 while total occasions increased from 3 to 5 (both p < 0.001). Pharmacy clinics demonstrated greater revenue efficiency (revenue-to-cost ratio 2.97 vs. 1.73). Pharmacists conducted comprehensive medication reviews including medication counselling, adherence assessment, and non-pharmacological support within a supervised framework.
Conclusion: The paediatric-pharmacy shared-care model was associated with shorter wait times, greater cost-efficiency, and redistribution of routine medication reviews to pharmacists, with increased overall review frequency despite fewer medical appointments per patient. Pharmacist reviews were comprehensive and delivered within a supervised framework. These findings support pharmacist-led shared care as a scalable strategy to improve access and workforce capacity in developmental paediatrics.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health publishes original research articles of scientific excellence in paediatrics and child health. Research Articles, Case Reports and Letters to the Editor are published, together with invited Reviews, Annotations, Editorial Comments and manuscripts of educational interest.
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