Healthcare Traveler - October 2008 - (Page 62) Allied Corner Pharmacists T R E N D S & O U T LO O K S F O R A L L I E D H E A LT H T R AV E L E R S Online pharmacist care helps patients to control high blood pressure The National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute funded a new study that finds patients with hypertension achieve greater control of their condition through online communication with pharmacists. Three groups of participants received usual care; home monitoring and informational website access; or those interventions plus online interactions with a pharmacist every 2 weeks. After 12 months, 56% of study participants—whose hypertension previously remained uncontrolled despite medication and physician care—achieved control with blood pressures of 140/90 mmHg or lower. While the second intervention decreased systolic levels, only pharmacist care management recorded significant control. Results of “The Electronic Communications and Home Blood Pressure Monitoring (e-BP) Study” appear in the June 25, 2008, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Previous research has concluded that blood pressure control reduces the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2008, June 24). Better blood pressure control achieved with online care management by pharmacist. Retrieved September 11, 2008, from http://public.nhlbi.nih.gov/ newsroom/home/GetPressRelease.aspx?id=2576 Number of authorized refills affects patience adherence Prescribers may encourage patient compliance with drug therapy over time by authorizing more refills when they write prescriptions. SDI, a leading provider of de-identified patient-level data analytics for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, announced the results of its study on patients’ filling behavior. Looking at 4,522 prescribers who write 270 or more prescriptions per year in the lipid-lowering market, it found that prescribers who consistently write prescriptions with four or more refills have patient populations that fill more scripts than those who authorize fewer refills or require a new prescription to obtain medication. As health outcomes are linked to medication adherence over time, this data has significant implications for patient compliance initiatives and pharmaceutical sales. Positive adherence is vital to successful management of many chronic conditions. HT Source: Drugs.com. (2008, September 9). SDI reports: Prescribers may influence patient adherence by authorizing more refills. Retrieved September 11, 2008, from http://www.drugs.com/news/sdi-reports-prescribers-may-influencepatient-adherence-authorizing-more-refills-13561.html Jennifer Samuels is associate editor of Healthcare Traveler. Circle Career Card No. 629 Circle Career Card No. 641 Circle Career Card No. 622 62 Healthcare Traveler October 2008 www.healthcaretraveler.com http://www.Drugs.com http://www.drugs.com/news/sdi-reports-prescribers-may-influencepatient-adherence-authorizing-more-refills-13561.html http://www.drugs.com/news/sdi-reports-prescribers-may-influencepatient-adherence-authorizing-more-refills-13561.html http://public.nhlbi.nih.gov/newsroom/home/GetPressRelease.aspx?id=2576 http://public.nhlbi.nih.gov/newsroom/home/GetPressRelease.aspx?id=2576 http://www.medfirststaffing.com http://www.meridianmedicalstaffing.com http://www.richardshealthcare.com http://www.healthcaretraveler.com
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