Delivering Diabetes Education and Enhanced Services Within a Clinically Integrated Community Pharmacy Network

Abstract

Introduction: With the increasing adoption of alternative payment models (APM) in the U.S. healthcare system there is a growing interest in measuring pharmacy performance with a focus on preventive care and chronic disease management. The Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN) has been established throughout the U.S. to incorporate high-performing pharmacies to provide enhanced services for high-risk patients including those with diabetes. Methods: The primary objective of this study is to assess the readiness of community pharmacists within CPESN to deliver minimum enhanced services (MES) and diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) among diabetes patients. A cross-sectional survey was distributed via email to all pharmacies within CPESN New York. Descriptive statistics were utilized to assess survey responses. Results: A total of 84 participants responded to the survey. Top DSMES services offered included: education on blood glucose monitoring (95%), education on lifestyle changes (88%), and monitoring medication adherence to diabetes-related medications (88%). The most time spent per week on DSMES services was for monitoring medication adherence to diabetes-related medications (5.9 +/− 7.0 hours). Top facilitators included technology to execute workflow (55%), adequate workflow design (54%), and proper training for pharmacy personnel (53%). Common barriers in executing services are lack of collaboration with other health professionals (54%) and proper training of pharmacy personnel (49%). Conclusion: CPESN-NY pharmacies demonstrate the opportunity to adapt clinical services including DSMES, which will enhance their performance measures in APMs. Facilitators and barriers have been identified thus next steps in the would be to address how to overcome these barriers.