The Role of Clinical Pharmacists in Patient-Centric Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) may experience a variety of visible and invisible symptoms and, as they age, comorbidities related and unrelated to their MS. This can result in a complex medication regimen that includes disease-modifying therapies, symptom management drugs, and prescriptions for other comorbid disorders. METHODS: We reviewed the existing literature to discover how to optimally integrate neurology clinical pharmacists into the MS care team and how clinical pharmacists can directly support both providers and patients through their expertise in pharmacology and medication management. RESULTS: With approaches founded on a shared decision-making process alongside neurology providers, patients, and care partners, clinical pharmacists can help meet the complex challenges of MS care in a variety of ways. Especially within MS clinics, they are well positioned to enhance current neurology practices given their extensive training in comprehensive medication management and their ability to identify nuances in medication management to promote pharmacovigilance and patient-centered care. CONCLUSIONS: Neurology clinical pharmacists bring multifaceted medication management and patient counseling and education skills to the MS care team and can support the shared decision-making process by serving as an accessible resource for patients and clinicians. By building trusted partnerships between neurology providers and clinical pharmacists, MS care teams can achieve effective and efficient patient care. Future research should compare clinical and patient-reported outcomes between patients receiving standard care and those receiving multidisciplinary, pharmacist-integrated care.