TY - JOUR
AU - A. Nemir
AU - A. Salil
AU - A. I. Kapanen
AU - P. J. Zed
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVES: The Pharmacists in Primary Care Network (PCN) Program integrated Primary Care Clinical Pharmacists (PCCPs) as core members of the interprofessional team (IPT) in PCNs across British Columbia (BC). Our objective was to evaluate stakeholders' perspectives and experiences with integrating PCCPs into team-based care within PCNs in BC describing the facilitators and barriers to pharmacist integration. METHODS: This evaluation utilized qualitative research methods and was informed by Qualitative Description methodology. Participants were invited to participate in individual and focus group interviews and included UBC program team members, health authority pharmacy representatives, PCN administrators, and PCCPs. KEY FINDINGS: Facilitators included: (i) working in a blended model of care; (ii) UBC program team supports and resources; (iii) PCN-related facilitators, (iv) collaboration between stakeholders; and (v) prior practice experience of the PCCP. Barriers included: (i) PCCP's role clarity; (ii) PCCPs integrating into multiple clinics; (iii) resistance to PCCP co-location hindering relationships with IPT members; (iv) prescriber-initiated referral requirement; (v) technology challenges; and (vi) system-related factors. CONCLUSIONS: Broad systemic barriers to the new team-based primary care model in BC challenged PCCP integration along with the evolution and development of the entire IPT. Pharmacist integration was challenged by barriers that stemmed from the lack of understanding of their role and scope and what resources were needed to support them in their role, especially at the PCN level. Understanding the facilitators while addressing the underlying barriers is critical to achieving optimal integration, supporting the satisfaction of PCCPs, and optimizing the provision of team-based patient-centered primary care in BC.
AD - Evaluation Coordinator, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.; Research Coordinator, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Associate Member, Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
AN - 41979454
BT - Int J Pharm Pract
C5 - Education & Workforce
DA - 04/2026
DO - 10.1093/ijpp/riag050
DP - NLM
ET - 20260414
JF - Int J Pharm Pract
LA - eng
N2 - OBJECTIVES: The Pharmacists in Primary Care Network (PCN) Program integrated Primary Care Clinical Pharmacists (PCCPs) as core members of the interprofessional team (IPT) in PCNs across British Columbia (BC). Our objective was to evaluate stakeholders' perspectives and experiences with integrating PCCPs into team-based care within PCNs in BC describing the facilitators and barriers to pharmacist integration. METHODS: This evaluation utilized qualitative research methods and was informed by Qualitative Description methodology. Participants were invited to participate in individual and focus group interviews and included UBC program team members, health authority pharmacy representatives, PCN administrators, and PCCPs. KEY FINDINGS: Facilitators included: (i) working in a blended model of care; (ii) UBC program team supports and resources; (iii) PCN-related facilitators, (iv) collaboration between stakeholders; and (v) prior practice experience of the PCCP. Barriers included: (i) PCCP's role clarity; (ii) PCCPs integrating into multiple clinics; (iii) resistance to PCCP co-location hindering relationships with IPT members; (iv) prescriber-initiated referral requirement; (v) technology challenges; and (vi) system-related factors. CONCLUSIONS: Broad systemic barriers to the new team-based primary care model in BC challenged PCCP integration along with the evolution and development of the entire IPT. Pharmacist integration was challenged by barriers that stemmed from the lack of understanding of their role and scope and what resources were needed to support them in their role, especially at the PCN level. Understanding the facilitators while addressing the underlying barriers is critical to achieving optimal integration, supporting the satisfaction of PCCPs, and optimizing the provision of team-based patient-centered primary care in BC.
PY - 2026
SN - 0961-7671
ST - Facilitators and barriers to the integration and optimization of primary care pharmacy practice in British Columbia
T1 - Facilitators and barriers to the integration and optimization of primary care pharmacy practice in British Columbia
T2 - Int J Pharm Pract
TI - Facilitators and barriers to the integration and optimization of primary care pharmacy practice in British Columbia
U1 - Education & Workforce
U3 - 10.1093/ijpp/riag050
VO - 0961-7671
Y1 - 2026
ER -