The National Facilitator Model is a data sharing tool that can provide real-time information on prescriptions, testing, and immunizations at multiple points of care, so the healthcare ecosystem can respond more effectively to pandemics and public health crises. During the second phase of developmental efforts, STChealth identified supported use cases for the National Facilitator Model and factors that will impact successful implementation.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- STChealth has completed the second phase of research into NCPDP's National Facilitator Model, confirming there is strong industry support for broader implementation of this data-sharing tool. The comprehensive results detail research findings, next steps, and where NCPDP can further support the initiative.
In 2022, the NCPDP Foundation announced the pilot launch of the National Facilitator Model, which provides real-time information on prescriptions, testing, and immunizations at multiple points of care to pharmacies, prescribers, and government agencies, so they can respond more effectively to pandemics and public health crises. The model uses the Universal Patient Identifier (UPI), which is powered by Experian Health UIM and NCPDP Standards™. Supported by two $150,000 grants from the NCPDP Foundation, STChealth conducted the two-phase developmental efforts.
In the first phase, STChealth confirmed the UPI's ability to accurately identify patients across multiple data sets and states to provide patient-specific data to pharmacists. The second phase focused on validating the viability of the National Facilitator Model based on industry stakeholder interviews and research.
In the interviews, STChealth sought to gauge industry support for leveraging the National Facilitator Model in three areas where pharmacists play a role: administering immunizations, dispensing controlled substances, and general all-drug dispensing. There was strong support for using the National Facilitator Model for immunizations and controlled substances. Immunizations was the most-supported use case, with interviewees citing enhanced patient safety, reduced immunization recommendation errors, and improved clinical data access for providers as key benefits of the model.
As NCPDP continues to develop this framework, STChealth also identified three critical areas of focus that will increase the rate of success for ultimate implementation and use of the National Facilitator Model:
- It must fit within existing workflows, with minimal disruption for providers, including pharmacists.
- There must be a minimally viable product for industry introduction, with a clear plan for further development and growth.
- It should optimize the most usable and valuable functions for the customer and not offer functions that would likely be underused.
"It's exciting to see the National Facilitator Model continue to take shape," said J.W. Hill, MBAHCM, Executive Director of the NCPDP Foundation. "The key to modernizing our public health infrastructure is interoperability—getting rid of data silos. This will ultimately lead to more comprehensive care for patients. The NCPDP Foundation is primed to continue supporting the National Facilitator Model as it advances into real-world development and implementation."
Phase two of the National Facilitator Model research was funded by the Lee Ann Stember Endowment Fund, the FDB Patient Safety Founders Gift Donor Fund, the GoodRx Access to Care Founders Gift Donor Fund, and the NCPDP Foundation General Grant Fund.
About the NCPDP Foundation
The NCPDP Foundation collaborates with organizations and individuals to support research initiatives that improve data sharing throughout the healthcare ecosystem, removing obstacles to quality care for patients, with a focus on pharmacy interoperability. The NCPDP Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Media Contact
Whitney Ellington, NCPDP Foundation, 480.477.1000, [email protected], https://ncpdpfoundation.org/
SOURCE NCPDP Foundation
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