The program contains 15 cutting-edge modules:

MTM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

MODULE 1. Introduction to Medication Therapy Management (MTM)

This introductory module covers the background and goals of MTM. It defines MTM, reviews key elements, and describes the benefits of MTM for patients, health systems, and payers. In this module, learners will gain understanding of how current government and healthcare quality improvement mandates have created a greater demand for pharmacist-conducted MTM.

MODULE 2. Identifying Patients for MTM

In this section, pharmacists will learn how to target patients for MTM services, identify key disease states, and determine eligibility for MTM under Medicare Part D. In addition, pharmacists will learn how to select and approach pharmacy patients to build an MTM practice.

MODULE 3. Collecting Patient Information for MTM

Pharmacists will gain the skills to collect pertinent information from medical sources and through the patient interview to design a strategy for effective counseling and change. Pharmacists will learn how to gather patient data, identify a chief complaint, and assess the patient's clinical well being, health practices, and preferences or beliefs.

MODULE 4. Developing a Therapeutics Plan

Working with the patient to develop a therapeutics plan is a primary component of MTM in any practice setting. This module provides steps for designing a comprehensive, patient-centered therapeutics plan. The plan includes action steps for the patient and for the MTM provider in collaboration with other members of the healthcare team.

MODULE 5. Communication Essentials

Communicating with Patients
Effective patient communication is necessary to educate patients and improve outcomes. This module will review techniques for motivational interviewing, health-behavior change, and health literacy. This module gives pharmacists the tools they need to effectively communicate with patients of different backgrounds as part of the MTM process.

Collaborating with Other Health Professionals
Establishing successful pharmacist–provider relationships is essential in MTM. This module will help pharmacists understand formal collaborative practice agreements with providers. In addition, pharmacists will learn the do's and don'ts for communicating their recommendations to physicians and other providers as part of the MTM documentation and follow-up process.

MODULE 6. Practicing Evidence-Based Medicine

Much of the decision-making in MTM is based on an understanding of how evidence-based medicine works to optimize patient outcomes from medical therapy. This essential primer enhances skill in selecting medical literature, evaluating the data, and deciding which studies and clinical practice guidelines are most relevant to patient care.

MODULE 7. Endocrine Disorders

Diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorders are some of the most frequently encountered chronic health conditions in MTM practice. This comprehensive module emphasizes administration, monitoring and patient counseling for most major diabetes drug classes, as well as background on treating common thyroid disorders and adrenal disorders.

MODULE 8. Cardiovascular Conditions

Chronic management and secondary prevention of cardiovascular conditions are complex and commonly mismanaged areas of medical care. This module covers current therapeutic approaches in hypertension, systolic and diastolic heart failure, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, venous thromboembolism, stroke, dyslipidemia, and peripheral arterial disease.

MODULE 9. Respiratory Diseases

Patients with respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma often take multiple medications. Patients frequently misunderstand the differences between acute and maintenance therapies, and many do not have a clear understanding of inhaler technique. Others may be on inappropriate therapies. This module reviews medical strategies in asthma, COPD, and pulmonary hypertension.

MODULE 10. Gastrointestinal (GI) Disorders

As more GI drugs become available OTC, patients often misunderstand the risks, benefits, and appropriate use and administration of these medication classes. This module reviews gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease (PUD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and viral hepatitis, with the goal of improving patient understanding about their treatment.

MODULE 11. Urologic Disorders

Patients are increasingly seeking treatment for common urologic disorders such as erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and urinary incontinence. Appropriate therapeutic selection and adherence are essential to the successful management of these conditions. Many patients find these subjects difficult to discuss, so gaining patient confidence and comfort is key.

MODULE 12. Psychiatric Disorders

This review will familiarize with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, sleep, and eating disorders, as well as schizophrenia and substance abuse. Major drug classes that will gain understanding of include various classes of antidepressants, antipsychotics, nicotine replacement therapy, and benzodiazepines.

MODULE 13. Bone and Joint Diseases

As the average age of the population continues to climb, more patients are taking medications for osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. After completing this module, the participant will be more competent in patient counseling about the use of prescription disease modifying therapies, as well as OTC analgesics and supplement products.

MODULE 14. Assessing and Ensuring Adherence to Therapy

Nonadherence is among the most prevalent—and most challenging—problems that is encountered in the practice of MTM. The MTM format is ideal for identifying patients' specific barriers to adherence. This module helps to focus on behaviors and attitudes that limit patient adherence and to address these using a patient-centered approach.

MODULE 15. Medication Safety

Medication safety concepts include the prevention of adverse drug events, drug interactions, administration errors, accidental overdose, and misappropriation of drugs by others. Medication safety is central to MTM and pharmacy practice in general. This module reviews how to utilize existing resources on medication safety in the context of an MTM practice.

The initiation of Medicare Part D provided a formal system for reimbursing pharmacists for MTM services. However, the current healthcare environment offers many potential avenues by which a pharmacist can receive compensation for MTM and other patient care services. This bonus module discusses the status of current and future compensation models for pharmacist-delivered MTM.