NASHVILLE, Tenn. A recent study performed by researchers working with the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance (MVA) showed that underserved patients with sub-optimally controlled type 2 diabetes cared for by pharmacists were more adherent to their medication regimen and had better blood sugar control than those who did not have a pharmacist in their care team. The study – "Assessing the Effectiveness of Pharmacist-Directed Medication Therapy Management in Improving Diabetes Outcomes in Patients with Poorly Controlled Diabetes" – was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Diabetes Educator and featured in Endocrine Today and Drug Store News.
St. Thomas Medical Partners Family Health Center Pharmacist Supervisor Rebecca Hopper, BAPharm, PharmD, BCACP, CDE, BCADM spearheaded the study. She said it began as an outgrowth of being involved with other clinics and learning about what was being done with diabetes in the MVA and the Diabetes Improvement Project.
“We wanted to confirm if a clinical pharmacist’s involvement in patient care improved outcomes,” she explained.
Dr. Hopper partnered with Consuelo H. Wilkins, MD, MSCI, the Executive Director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, along with supporting MVA collaborators, to complete the study. MVA team members and pharmacy support staff reviewed medical records of 100 patients, half of which were exposed to enhanced pharmacy care. Enhanced pharmacy care included educating patients with new diagnoses of type 2 diabetes on the risks of the disease and the benefit of treatment, as well as the necessity of medical adherence. The other half of patients received standard care from their primary care providers.
The data was analyzed by Jeannine Skinner, PhD, a Senior Research Associate at the MVA. “Study results show enhanced pharmacy care was associated with better blood sugar control and better medication adherence,” Skinner said. “This study provided preliminary support for the role of pharmacists in the management of chronic health conditions.”
Dr. Hopper was pleased with the results of the study, saying it was a great opportunity for her to show that pharmacist care can make a significant difference in a patient’s treatment. “Working with the MVA has been such a privilege,” she commented. “Collaborative practice, I think, always works in the best interest of patients.”
Hopper; Wilkins; Skinner; Brett Poe, BS; Alaina Boyer, PhD; and pharmacist student Andrew Keller conducted the study.
Dr. Hopper’s next step is to develop a standardized protocol for enhanced pharmacy care.
About the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance
Founded in 1999, the Alliance bridges the institutions of Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University. Its mission is to enrich learning and advance clinical research by developing and supporting mutually beneficial partnerships between Meharry Medical College, Vanderbilt University and the communities they serve.
The Diabetes Improvement Project
The Diabetes Improvement Project of the Consortium of Safety Net Providers of Middle Tennessee has been running since 2010. Members of the Consortium are Matthew Walker Community Health System, United Neighborhood CHS, University CHS, Faith Family Health Clinic, Siloam Health Center, St. Thomas Health System, and Nashville General Hospital/Meharry Clinics. These seven systems serve over 106,000 uninsured or poorly insured people.
About Saint Thomas Health
Saint Thomas Health is the leading faith-based health care system in Tennessee and is a part of Ascension Health, the largest not-for-profit health care system in the United States. We are committed to healing and dedicated to service, especially to persons who are poor or needy, reflecting the spiritual core of our mission, vision and values.
