Drug Topics - October 13, 2008 - (Page 9s)

www.drugtopics.com Oct. 13, 2008 DRUG TOPICS 9s W hat’s the most important element in successful diabetes care? Diabetes specialists say patient education and self-management. Getting the patient actively involved makes the difference between managing diabetes successfully and dealing with premature cardiovascular disease, amputation, blindness, renal failure, and other complications. “Ninety-eight percent of the success of any patient is up to that patient,” said pharmacist Jerry Meece, certified diabetes educator and director of clinical services at Plaza Pharmacy and Wellness Center in Gainesville, Texas. “It’s only the remaining 2 percent of success that is dependent on the help of healthcare professionals.” Getting patients involved was a key part of the Asheville Project, a pioneering pharmacy-based diabetes management program that was launched with little fanfare in Asheville, N.C., more than a decade ago. The self-insured City of Asheville needed a more effective method to manage diabetes among its covered population. The North Carolina Center for Pharmaceutical Care offered a solution: Train pharmacists to manage diabetes care and to train patients to manage themselves. The new approach worked. Asheville’s pharmacy costs grew, but total medical care costs plummeted. Employee sick days decreased and productivity improved. So did mean hemoglobin A1c levels and HDL levels. “The biggest difference in Asheville is patient self-management,” said Toni Fera, director of patient self-management programs at the American Pharmacists Association Foundation. The American Diabetes Association seldom talks about Asheville or any other specific management program. But ask what elements are vital for successful diabetes management, and patient self-management tops the list. “Patient education and patient self-management are key,” said Catherine Harvey, DPH, RN, and ADA executive vice president for community programs and publications. “People have a medical team that helps them with the right combination Catherine Harvey of medicaDPH, RN, tions, diet, Executive VP, ADA supplies, and so on. But it is really up to individuals to manage themselves and their disease. Self-management is about how not to live life as a diabetic but how to integrate diabetes into your life.” The ADA is less concerned about where patients learn about diabetes than that they get the selfmanagement skills needed to keep their diabetes under control. Many ADA-approved patient education programs take place in schools and community centers. Pharmacies are another viable venue. Independent pharmacies “I was having a lot of patients with diabetes asking for information and help,” said Jose Carranza, owner of Carranza Pharmacy in Modesto, Calif., and winner of AmerisourceB e r g e n’s Diabetes Shoppe Living Without Limits Award in 2008. “A lot of people would rather ask their pharJose Carranza macist than go Pharmcy Owner back to their doctor. They know their doctor doesn’t have time to answer questions. I do.” A long-time Good Neighbor Pharmacy owner, Carranza joined AmerisourceBergen’s Diabetes Shoppe program about five years ago. The wholesaler provided a twoday diabetes certificate program designed by Jerry Meece that covers the nuts and bolts of diabetes care and patient education. “That training is what differentiates these stores,” Scott Robinson, director of AmerisourceBergen’s business coaching operations, said. “Unless you provide the patient with a very specific resource, there is no reason for them to come back. We want to make the pharmacist the resource that patients come back for.” Carranza also added special diabetic products such as sugar-free over-the-counter (OTC) formulations, sugar-free candies, footwear, oral products, topical creams, free glucose meters, and extended lines of diabetic supplies. He offers bi-monthly classes with a certified diabetes educator and is available for personal consultations. “A lot of people end up coming to my classes. They tell their friends, who also end up coming to my classes and to my two stores. It is paying off with a larger and very loyal customer base,” Carranza said. Diabetes Shoppe is an important element in AmerisourceBergen’s overall business mix. “Retail is a large segment of our business,” Ceci Zeigler, national director of patient care solutions, said. “Diabetes Shoppe is a real differentiator for these stores. Quite often, you don’t see personal care provided in a chain or in a big box setting. Patients really appreciate that hands-on attention.” Carranza sees it every day. “I get people who drive miles out of their way,” he said. “They drive by all the chains because I carry the special products they need, but mostly it’s because I can give them the special help they need. I can answer their http://www.drugtopics.com

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Drug Topics - October 13, 2008 Contents Latebreakers Letters Kansas Pharmacists Partner with Law Enforcement to Fight Meth Use Pharmacy Board to Oversee Med Distribution at West Virginia Free Clinics Rx Care JP�at Large Celebrating Community Special Report Self-Care Government and Law Newer Treatment Option for Type 2 Diabetes New Products Advertisers Index Technology Classified Viewpoint:�Pharmacists Must Change our Ways

Drug Topics - October 13, 2008

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