Pharmacist-provided diabetes management and education via a telemonitoring program.

OBJECTIVE

To assess clinical outcomes (glycosylated hemoglobin [A1C], blood pressure, and lipids) and other measurements (disease state knowledge, adherence, and self-efficacy) associated with the use of approved telemonitoring devices to expand and improve chronic disease management of patients with diabetes, with or without hypertension.

SETTING

Four community health centers (CHCs) in Utah.

PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Federally qualified safety net clinics that provide medical care to underserved patients.

PRACTICE INNOVATION: Pharmacist-led diabetes management using telemonitoring was compared with a group of patients receiving usual care (without telemonitoring).

INTERVENTIONS: Daily blood glucose (BG) and blood pressure (BP) values were reviewed and the pharmacist provided phone follow-up to assess and manage out-of-range BG and BP values.

EVALUATION: Changes in A1C, BP, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) at approximately 6 months were compared between the telemonitoring group and the usual care group. Patient activation, diabetes/hypertension knowledge, and medication adherence were measured in the telemonitoring group.

RESULTS

Of 150 patients, 75 received pharmacist-provided diabetes management and education via telemonitoring, and 75 received usual medical care. Change in A1C was significantly greater in the telemonitoring group compared with the usual care group (2.07% decrease vs. 0.66% decrease; P <0.001). Although BP and LDL levels also declined, differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. Patient activation measure, diabetes/hypertension knowledge, and medication adherence with antihypertensives (but not diabetes medications) improved in the telemonitoring group.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacist-provided diabetes management via telemonitoring resulted in a significant improvement in A1C in federally qualified CHCs in Utah compared with usual medical care. Telemonitoring may be considered a model for providing clinical pharmacy services to patients with diabetes.