The role of the pharmacist in geriatric care coordination: comparing the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan

Purpose:   The purpose of this study was to review the literature published within the last decade related to the role of the pharmacist in geriatric care coordination in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. This is important because pharmacists are playing an increasing role in health care provision. They are uniquely suited to mold their responsibilities around the changing needs of the growing geriatric population.

Methods:  An Internet search was conducted using the key words pharmacy, geriatric care coordination, seniors, elders, and older Americans.  Information posted between January 2001 – December 2011 was reviewed.

Results: The three main differences between the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan in regard to pharmacist provided geriatric care relate to (1) the provision of home care, (2) the delivery of coordinated services, and (3) the perceptions of the quality of geriatric care provided.  The key driving forces for these differences were culture, financing and education. 

Conclusion: Variations in the provision of geriatric care coordination exist between countries.  Due to limited resources, the challenge is to provide care that is balanced in cost and quality. Geriatrics-trained pharmacists may have a number of responsibilities, such as reviewing a patient’s medication regimen, suggesting changes, assessing patient ability to take the medications as intended, and coordinating care. Although studies show that geriatric related efforts in the U.K. and Japan far exceed the U.S., America’s older persons can expect geriatric medicine to evolve into an area that provides greater recognition of senior issues and improved efforts to coordinate care. Many older persons have seen benefits from increased emphasis on home care and a multidisciplinary team approach to care coordination. Pharmacists are in a unique position to meet the needs of seniors and all three countries provide unique efforts to deliver better health care to this ever-increasing population.