Evaluation of the Addition of Pharmacist Management to a Medication Assistance Program in Patients with Hypertension and Diabetes Resistant to Usual Care

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a medication assistance program and the addition of pharmacist management on clinical outcomes in patients with hypertension and diabetes through an Advanced Pharmaceutical Care program. METHODS: This was a prospective quality improvement study on patients with hypertension and/or diabetes resistant to usual care. The primary outcomes were change in A1C, blood glucose, and blood pressure between 3 phases: usual care, free medications, and free medications plus pharmacist management. Secondary outcomes included achievement of A1C, blood glucose, and blood pressure goals as well as pharmacist interventions. RESULTS: Seven patients were included in the study. The mean A1C decreased from 11.3% to 8.3% with free medications (p = 0.28) and from 8.3% to 6.4% with pharmacist management (p = 0.119). Mean blood pressure during usual care, free medications, and pharmacist intervention was 150/87 mm Hg, 148/85 mm Hg, and 125/78 mm Hg, respectively. After pharmacist management, 75% of patients with type 2 diabetes were able to achieve A1C and blood glucose goals, and 71% of patients with hypertension achieved blood pressure <130/80 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS: The Advanced Pharmaceutical Care program allowed pharmacists to identify and overcome patient-specific barriers to care, provide individualized disease state education, and optimize medication management. Medication assistance led to improvements in A1C and blood pressure, but did not affect achievement of disease state goals. Pharmacist involvement in hypertension and diabetes care led to clinically significant reductions in blood pressure and A1C and enabled patients to reach guideline-recommended blood pressure and glycemic goals.