Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the face of province-wide implementation of activity-based hospital funding in Quebec, a need arose to effectively measure pharmacists' contributions along the patient care trajectory and to enable pharmacy benchmarking using valid performance indicators. OBJECTIVES: A 3-phase project was initiated to measure the performance and impact of pharmacists and pharmacy departments. Phases 2 and 3, described here, focused on gradually implementing, in various health care centres, the priority indicators selected in phase 1. METHODS: The project involved multiple committees overseeing the implementation, data collection, analysis, and documentation of 18 performance indicators. Specific tools were developed to facilitate data collection and encourage pharmacists' participation. A feedback survey was used to document pharmacists' experiences. RESULTS: Substantial data were gathered over 3 years (2017 to 2020), involving 358 pharmacists from 6 health care centres. The overall contribution rate to the daily data collection from front-line pharmacists was 55%. The feedback survey revealed that, of the various communication tools used to promote the project, in-person events were better perceived by the front-line pharmacists than online tools. Of the 183 respondents to the survey, most (94%, n = 172) believed it was important to collect data to document pharmacists' activities, and 82% (n = 150) saw the project as relevant to the upcoming activity-based funding system. CONCLUSIONS: Despite challenges, progress was made in defining relevant indicators, adjusting the list generated during phase 1, and reaching a consensus on 16 indicators. Stakeholders expressed interest, emphasizing the importance of documenting pharmacists' activities. The project has laid the foundation for demonstrating the value of pharmacists along the patient care trajectory and measuring pharmacy departments' performance. However, more integrated technological solutions are needed for province-wide implementation.