Controlling Blood Pressure During a Pandemic: The Impact of Telepharmacy for Primary Care Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown positive clinical outcomes in chronic conditions, such as hypertension, through pharmacist-delivered medication therapy management and medication adherence services. Given the need for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, increased utilization of telepharmacy strategies has been employed for managing blood pressure control. METHODS: A retrospective single-center cohort study that compared in-person pharmacist visits and telepharmacy visits in primary care patients with hypertension via electronic chart review from January 2018 to July 2022. Subjects were included who were at least 18 years of age with hypertension. Comparator groups were patients who underwent an in-person pharmacy (pre-COVID-19) visit vs a telepharmacy visit (post-COVID-19). The primary outcome was the number of patients with controlled blood pressure based on a blood pressure goal of less than or equal to 130/80 following telepharmacy visit vs in-person visit. Medication adherence, pharmacist intervention, incidence of antihypertensive side-effects, and blood pressure maintenance based on a goal of ≤140/90 were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 77 patients were included. There was no difference in the primary outcome following in person pharmacy visits compared to telepharmacy visits (P = .690). There was also no difference found for the secondary endpoints of blood pressure goal less than or equal to 140/90 mmHg (P = .481), medication adherence (P = 1.00), or antihypertensive adverse events (P = .344). CONCLUSION: Telepharmacy visits had a nonsignificant change in blood pressure control when compared to in-person visits. Results suggest that the utilization of either in-person or telepharmacy strategies benefit the management of hypertension.

Development of a combination didactic-experiential elective course within a college-based pharmacy call center.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacy graduates should be prepared to provide patient care in a variety of healthcare settings as members of an interprofessional collaborative team. College-based pharmacy call centers can serve as settings to promote interprofessional practice through didactic and experiential coursework. An elective course, Team-Based Medication Management Practices, was developed to provide student pharmacists the opportunity to learn about pharmacy-led services within value-based care models and to prepare them for interprofessional care by incorporating experiential activities within a college-based call center. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY: A two-credit elective course was offered to third-year pharmacy students. The course was delivered through a combination of didactic lectures and experiential activities within a college-based pharmacy call center, with modules focused on medication adherence, medication therapy management, and transitions of care. A survey was administered to students at the end of the course to evaluate perceptions. FINDINGS: Six students enrolled in the elective and completed the survey. Most students "strongly agreed" or "agreed" that they gained a better understanding of interprofessional care within value-based care models and pharmacy services that can be provided within a college-based call center while acquiring patient care skills. The role of telehealth in the delivery of pharmacist-led patient care services is likely to continue expanding as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and it will become increasingly important to train students to provide these services.

Strategies for Managing Pharmacy Experiential Education During COVID-19.

In recent months, the coronavirus pandemic has significantly affected almost every industry in the United States, including health care and higher education. Faculty and students at colleges and schools of pharmacy nationwide have needed to quickly adapt as the delivery of curricula has shifted to primarily online format. Additionally, experiential rotations have been significantly affected as practice settings such as hospitals and outpatient clinics have limited students' interactions with patients or stopped allowing students on-site altogether. Our commentary will explore strategies that have been employed by experiential education coordinators and pharmacy preceptors from various settings to navigate experiential education during these difficult times while ensuring students successfully meet requirements for graduation. These will include descriptions of transitioning advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) to virtual format, how to safely involve students in the care of COVID-19 patients, and managing scheduling issues.