Evaluation of workload among Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists in the United States

Introduction Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists (BCPPs) are highly trained mental health providers. The workload of clinical pharmacists has been inconsistently reported in the literature. The goals of this study were to quantify the typical and ideal workloads of BCPPs and characterize their p...

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Main Authors: Kelly C. Lee, PharmD, MAS, BCPP, FCCP, FASHP, Samantha Catanzano, PharmD, BCPP, Melissa Mooers Gross, BS, PharmD, MHA, BCPP, BCPS, BCGP, BCIDP, CPEL, CPPS, Monica Fahmy, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS, Jennifer N. Gemmellaro, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS, Gregory H. Payne, MBA, CAE
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists 2025-06-01
Series:Mental Health Clinician
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Online Access:https://theijpt.org/doi/pdf/10.9740/mhc.2025.06.156
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author Kelly C. Lee, PharmD, MAS, BCPP, FCCP, FASHP
Samantha Catanzano, PharmD, BCPP
Melissa Mooers Gross, BS, PharmD, MHA, BCPP, BCPS, BCGP, BCIDP, CPEL, CPPS
Monica Fahmy, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Jennifer N. Gemmellaro, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Gregory H. Payne, MBA, CAE
author_facet Kelly C. Lee, PharmD, MAS, BCPP, FCCP, FASHP
Samantha Catanzano, PharmD, BCPP
Melissa Mooers Gross, BS, PharmD, MHA, BCPP, BCPS, BCGP, BCIDP, CPEL, CPPS
Monica Fahmy, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Jennifer N. Gemmellaro, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Gregory H. Payne, MBA, CAE
author_sort Kelly C. Lee, PharmD, MAS, BCPP, FCCP, FASHP
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists (BCPPs) are highly trained mental health providers. The workload of clinical pharmacists has been inconsistently reported in the literature. The goals of this study were to quantify the typical and ideal workloads of BCPPs and characterize their practice settings and clinical activities. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey study of BCPP members of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists. The survey included demographic, practice-related, and burnout questions. The primary outcome was the self-reported typical and ideal workloads of BCPPs in inpatient, outpatient, and transition-of-care settings. Secondary outcomes included practice settings and types of activities. Results Of 571 invitees, 173 respondents were included in the analysis. The mean typical number of patients per day for inpatient and outpatient BCPPs were 35.6 (±22.8) and 9.29 (±10.9), respectively. The mean ideal number of patients per day for inpatient and outpatient BCPPs were 23.6 (±10.4) and 9.96 (±10.6), respectively. Inpatient pharmacists reported spending 15.4 (±12.2) hours on direct patient care and consults during a typical workweek compared with outpatient pharmacists (25.4 ± 15.1, p ≤ .001). A greater number of outpatient pharmacists reported that electronic health record documentation contributed to a significant portion of their workflow compared with inpatient pharmacists (96.2% versus 71.9%, respectively, p ≤ .001). Discussion This was the first study to quantify BCPPs self-reported typical and ideal workload in different practice settings. Future research is needed to identify the factors that determine ideal workloads for BCPPs at specific practice sites.
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spelling doaj-art-a291b62bc326413babd91a2a37ed71f72025-08-20T02:30:31ZengAmerican Association of Psychiatric PharmacistsMental Health Clinician2168-97092025-06-0115315616310.9740/mhc.2025.06.156i2168-9709-15-3-156Evaluation of workload among Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists in the United StatesKelly C. Lee, PharmD, MAS, BCPP, FCCP, FASHP0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1674-4210Samantha Catanzano, PharmD, BCPP1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6281-7038Melissa Mooers Gross, BS, PharmD, MHA, BCPP, BCPS, BCGP, BCIDP, CPEL, CPPS2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1850-6379Monica Fahmy, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5723-5607Jennifer N. Gemmellaro, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3578-8427Gregory H. Payne, MBA, CAE5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8592-72801 (Corresponding author) Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, La Jolla, California2 Clinical Assistant Professor, The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy, Austin, Texas3 Regional Manager, Clinical Pharmacy Services (West/North), WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania4 Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Yale New Haven Health, New Haven, Connecticut5 Behavioral Health Clinical Pharmacist, St. Joseph’s Behavioral Health Center, Tampa, Florida6 Director of Strategic Initiatives, American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists, Lincoln, NebraskaIntroduction Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists (BCPPs) are highly trained mental health providers. The workload of clinical pharmacists has been inconsistently reported in the literature. The goals of this study were to quantify the typical and ideal workloads of BCPPs and characterize their practice settings and clinical activities. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey study of BCPP members of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists. The survey included demographic, practice-related, and burnout questions. The primary outcome was the self-reported typical and ideal workloads of BCPPs in inpatient, outpatient, and transition-of-care settings. Secondary outcomes included practice settings and types of activities. Results Of 571 invitees, 173 respondents were included in the analysis. The mean typical number of patients per day for inpatient and outpatient BCPPs were 35.6 (±22.8) and 9.29 (±10.9), respectively. The mean ideal number of patients per day for inpatient and outpatient BCPPs were 23.6 (±10.4) and 9.96 (±10.6), respectively. Inpatient pharmacists reported spending 15.4 (±12.2) hours on direct patient care and consults during a typical workweek compared with outpatient pharmacists (25.4 ± 15.1, p ≤ .001). A greater number of outpatient pharmacists reported that electronic health record documentation contributed to a significant portion of their workflow compared with inpatient pharmacists (96.2% versus 71.9%, respectively, p ≤ .001). Discussion This was the first study to quantify BCPPs self-reported typical and ideal workload in different practice settings. Future research is needed to identify the factors that determine ideal workloads for BCPPs at specific practice sites.https://theijpt.org/doi/pdf/10.9740/mhc.2025.06.156psychiatric pharmacistworkloadinpatientoutpatient
spellingShingle Kelly C. Lee, PharmD, MAS, BCPP, FCCP, FASHP
Samantha Catanzano, PharmD, BCPP
Melissa Mooers Gross, BS, PharmD, MHA, BCPP, BCPS, BCGP, BCIDP, CPEL, CPPS
Monica Fahmy, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Jennifer N. Gemmellaro, PharmD, BCPP, BCPS
Gregory H. Payne, MBA, CAE
Evaluation of workload among Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists in the United States
Mental Health Clinician
psychiatric pharmacist
workload
inpatient
outpatient
title Evaluation of workload among Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists in the United States
title_full Evaluation of workload among Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists in the United States
title_fullStr Evaluation of workload among Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists in the United States
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of workload among Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists in the United States
title_short Evaluation of workload among Board-Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists in the United States
title_sort evaluation of workload among board certified psychiatric pharmacists in the united states
topic psychiatric pharmacist
workload
inpatient
outpatient
url https://theijpt.org/doi/pdf/10.9740/mhc.2025.06.156
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