INNOVATIONS in pharmacy

An Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner-Community Pharmacist Team-Based Approach to Managing Hypertension in a Rural Community Pharmacy

Christopher P. Parker

Sherry L. Kelchen

William R. Doucette

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v6i2.384

Keywords: hypertension, team-based care, medical home, pharmacist, primary care

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Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the implementation of an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) – community pharmacist team-based collaborative model for managing hypertension in a rural, Midwestern, community pharmacy and family medicine clinic using the core functions of the patient centered medical home model (PCMH).

Methods: Thirteen patients with uncontrolled hypertension, 5 of who were newly diagnosed, were referred to the pharmacist by the ARNP. The pharmacist rechecked the patient’s blood pressure (BP) every 2 weeks after referral and made drug therapy change recommendations to the ARNP if the patient was not below goal.

Results: Following the intervention, the average SBP and DBP decreased 24 mmHg and 12mmHg, respectively. The pharmacists made 21 recommendations (dose increase (11), add a medication (6), change a medication (2), and addition of an adherence tool (2)), 100% of which were accepted by the ARNP.

Conclusion: A team-based approach to managing hypertension in a rural community pharmacy and family medicine clinic was an effective way to lower blood pressure. In addition, the core functions of the PCMH model can be delivered in a small family medicine practice. Creating specific expectations for each member of the team prior to referring patients improved the efficiency of the intervention.

 

Type: Original Research