Background

Diabetes type 1 and type 2 are diseases characterized by increased blood glucose
caused by either insulin deficiency, insulin resistance, or both, which affect approximately
 one in ten Americans.

Type 2 diabetes affects approximately 34.2 million, or one of every ten, Americans. Diabetes has a high economic burden, accounting for an estimated $327 billion including $237 billion in direct medical expenses in the U.S. annually. For patients with an A1c greater than 7%, research has found that a reduction of A1c by 1% is associated with a significant decrease in all-cause diabetes related expenditures of $736 annually.

Adherence to medication regimens plays a key role in optimizing disease management and A1c reduction; however, barriers including cost, medication regimen complexity, and health literacy can prevent patients from adhering to their therapy regimens. Working with patients to overcome these barriers will reduce A1c and diabetes related expenditures.

Based on this information, Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC) in Portsmouth, OH launched a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Pharmacy Service to help improve clinical outcomes for its patients with diabetes by providing high-touch support from onsite pharmacists and pharmacy liaisons. The pharmacists and liaisons work as integrated members of SOMC's Family Health Centers, collaborating with providers to monitor for adherence, identify and remove barriers to adherence, assess for therapy effectiveness, and recommend therapy changes as warranted.

All patients enrolled in the CDM Pharmacy Service receive medication access support, medication appropriateness and safety assessments, drug utilization review, adherence monitoring, as well as pharmacist counseling and education as needed to improve adherence. Patients considered high risk based on their A1c value or a provider referral are enrolled in an education program to receive additional pharmacist counseling and support until they achieve their A1c goal.

Objectives

Compare the reduction in hemoglobin A1c values for patients enrolled in CDM pharmacy services at SOMC compared to patients not enrolled in CDM pharmacy services at SOMC.

Evaluate patient adherence to diabetes medications when managed by specialty pharmacy liaisons and pharmacists.

Read about the team's findings by downloading the Outcomes Study below.

Download the abstract: