Description:

Establish a process whereby physicians can refer patients with complex medication therapies to a network of local community-based pharmacists.  These pharmacists would review a patient’s medication regimen, identify potential or actual drug therapy problems, develop a medication action plan and provide recommendations to the patient and/or physician to help optimize medication therapy outcomes.

Purpose:

This project develops and implements new community-based health care provider linkages that include support resources and a strong business infrastructure. A community-based pharmacist network will provide structured services designed to improve blood pressure control, thereby reducing 30-day hospital readmissions of high-risk patients. This network will give all participating pharmacists the ability to submit claims and receive payment through an “open” system.

Current Network Pharmacies:

• Brookshire Grocery Company
• Harvest Drug & Gift
• Park Plaza Pharmacy
• Trott’s Drug
• UT Health Northeast

Network Pharmacist Will:

1. Initiate contact with patients within 72 hours of referral from hospital/clinic with the preferred method of contact as a face-to-face interview. Telepharmacy may be used when deemed necessary.
2. Follow-up with the patient weekly for 2 weeks following initial contact/visit, then four weeks from initial, then eight weeks from initial visit for a total of 4 follow-up interactions as outlined below.
3. Track 60 day hospital readmission associated with uncontrolled chronic hypertension among enrolled patients
4. Monitor medication adherence of enrolled patients. Evaluated through medication fill rate, patient interviews/questionnaires and evaluation of remaining pill count (when possible).
5. Track patient attrition rates at follow-up intervals during the program.

View Network Pharmacist Information