Impact of the effectiveness of community pharmacist-provided medication therapy management services to State employees with a diagnosis of hypertension

Abstract

Objective: The goal of this project is to demonstrate the effectiveness of pharmacist- provided medication therapy management (MTM) services, in a retail setting, to patients who are state employees with a diagnosis of hypertension, in order to improve the patients' ability to manage their disease state, improve their overall health, and lead to cost avoidance for their employer. Methods: This project follows a 12-month timeline that involves five interactions between pharmacists and their patients at the pharmacies where the prescriptions are filled. These interactions include an initial MTM visit, two follow-up phone calls, and two face-to-face follow-up visits separated by 3-month intervals. Each interaction will measure patients' blood pressure, adherence to medications, education on cardiovascular disease, and lifestyle modifications using surveys that were adapted to fit this project. Results: As of August 1, 2014, this project entered its implementation phase and has contracted with 14 local, independent and chain pharmacies that have begun to meet with their enrolled patients for the initial MTM visit. The expectation of this project involves the participating pharmacist achieving the project's goals of utilizing MTM services to improve patients' adherence to their antihypertensive medications and their blood pressure control, which will translate into a reduction of health care expenditures by their employer as well as improve patients' cardiovascular health. Additionally, the project hopes to provide opportunities for community pharmacists to refocus their role in their practice setting to improve their performance rating and practice at the top of their license to achieve optimal patient outcomes.