Community Pharmacist-Based Collaborative Disease Management Program for Patients with Poorly Controlled Diabetes

Abstract

Objective: Patients with poorly controlled diabetes have more medical complications and are more difficult to manage. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of successful implementation of an employer initiated community pharmacist-based disease management program for diabetic patients with poorly controlled diabetes. Methods: Employees with poorly controlled diabetes (glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) level ≥ 7.5%) were identified from a large diabetes disease management program, in a rural setting in Texas, US. A longitudinal retrospective study was conducted, analyzing clinical indicators in the diabetes patients following the community pharmacist-based disease management program. The program involved a comprehensive drug therapy assessment and individualized disease management education. Primary outcome measured in the present study was A1C levels, assessed at the baseline visit and at the end of the intervention. Results: A total of 64 patients with poorly controlled diabetes were identified. Significant improvement in mean clinical outcome scores was achieved for A1C levels (p = 0.0011). At the end of the 1 year longitudinal intervention, targeted body mass index and A1C goals were attained by 35.9% ( p 9% A1C levels at baseline had a significant reduction (mean 2.1, p < 0.001) post intervention. Conclusion: The community pharmacist-based diabetes disease management program improved A1C levels of patients with poorly controlled diabetes.