The Delta Pharmacy Patient Care Management Project was implemented in July 2008. The overall objective of the project is to demonstrate how pharmacists can impact clinical, economic, and humanistic outcomes of residents of the Mississippi Delta through better utilization, understanding, and adherence to medications. These goals are accomplished through the provision of pharmaceutical care services, such as Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services and disease-specific education in community pharmacies in this underserved region. Pharmaceutical care is direct, responsible provision of medication-related care for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve the patient’s quality of life. It is accomplished by completing a systematic assessment of the patient’s drug related needs and previous medication experience; identifying, resolving, and preventing drug related problems; developing an individualized care plan; and completing a follow up evaluation. The project is funded by the Heath Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through the Delta Health Alliance (DHA).
Year 1 Objectives
Starting in July 2008, project infrastructure was developed and MTM services were implemented in seven community pharmacies in three targeted Delta counties: Coahoma (Clarksdale), Panola (Batesville), and Yazoo (Yazoo City). Year 1 focused on School of Pharmacy faculty traveling to community pharmacies to provide Medicaid patients with one-on-one diabetes or asthma point-of-care testing and education and making follow-up recommendations regarding medication adjustments to the patients’ primary care providers. Partnerships were developed with one provider practice in each of the three counties.
In addition to pharmacy patient services, the School of Pharmacy also worked with DHA on implementation of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) in the identified provider groups. Implementation of EHR provides enhanced communication between community pharmacies and participating provider practice sites to document pharmacy interventions and integrate all healthcare providers involved in the care of an individual patient.
Year 2 Objectives
In Year 2, School of Pharmacy faculty will continue to provide specialized MTM services to asthma and diabetes patients and will serve additional Delta counties: Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Washington, Humphreys, and Durant. Expansion of generalized MTM services performed by participating community pharmacists will be emphasized. The targeted population will increase beyond Medicaid enrollees, to include all patients who meet the enrollment criteria and would benefit from participation.
Using EHR, e-prescribe technology, and a new software program installed at community pharmacies, project participants will continue to utilize health information technology to improve medication use and safety, provide documentation of pharmacy services, and improve communication among providers.
New goals for Year 2 include:
- Implementing a Community Pharmacy Residency program at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, with practice experiences focused in Delta participating pharmacies
- Increasing the health provider network in underserved Delta counties
- Improving the cultural competency of healthcare providers to address health literacy deficiencies of patients in this region
- Implementing patient education classes, focusing on diabetes and asthma
Project evaluations for Year 1 and 2 include cost avoidance, criteria-based clinical outcomes, patient reported outcomes, and quality indicator reports.
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The Delta Health Alliance (DHA) is gratefully acknowledged for the support of this project through HRSA Grant Number U1FRH07411-3. DHA is a non-profit organization based in Stoneville, MS, that advocates, develops, and implements collaborative programs to improve the health of citizens in the Delta through the support of partnerships that increase access and availability of health care, conduct and apply health research, or offer health education programs that foster healthy lifestyles for Deltans. For more information about DHA visit www.deltahealthalliance.org.
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