CHAS’ Pharmacy Department has become well-known for advancing the responsibilities of Pharmacists, not only in Spokane but contributing to moving the profession forward nationwide!
One such recent effort which has spotlighted the Pharmacy Department is its’ involvement in the Patient Safety and Clinic Pharmacy Services Collaborative (PSPC). According to HRSA’s website, the PSPC is “a breakthrough effort to improve the quality of health care across America by integrating evidence-based clinical pharmacy services into the care and management of high-risk, high-cost, complex patients.”
CHAS became involved in the PSPC in October 2010 stemming from a desire to have Pharmacists recognized as providers while tracking measurable patient outcomes. A barrage of high-risk conditions was considered, but diabetes was selected as the focus because it closely aligned with work that was already being done at CHAS related to the Beacon and Patient-Centered Medical Home initiatives. The ultimate goal of CHAS’s PSPC efforts is to take patients with high-risk diabetes and stabilize them using an integrated care model. And isn’t CHAS the perfect place to do such a thing?! With Pharmacists and medical providers all under one roof, it was a no-brainer!
Primary Care Providers can refer patients with complicated diabetes to the team, those whose A1cs are too high or those who simply have educational needs. The model looks like this: a Pharmacist, who also happens to be a Certified Diabetic Educator, meets with the patient and performs a needs assessment which includes documentation of all medications, insulin titration needs, creating an educational plan, and goal setting by the patient. From there, the patient can be seen strictly by one or a combination of the team members which includes a primary care provider, pharmacist, and dietitian. The data measured which includes A1c, adverse drug events, potential adverse drug events, and medication reconciliation is reported internally to Quality Improvement and nationally.
To date, approximately 180 patients have enrolled in this integrated program. Visits include in-person, over-the-phone, and monthly group educational sessions (see upcoming schedule below). “As predicted, the patient results have been great,” states Pharmacy Director, Heather McNamee. Kelly Smoot, Pharmacist, and Certified Diabetes Educator goes on to say that the team approach has made a bigger difference to patients than she originally thought. “We’ve received a lot of positive patient feedback. We’ve had a lot of patients lost in care and out of control for years, but now they feel like they have people they can call.”
Another unexpected consequence of the PSPC program has been the increased role of the Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). “I never expected as many combo visits with the provider. It opens the door to help monitor for complications. A lot of CDE’s don’t get to do this. I love my job,” says Kelly.
PSPC services are available in the following clinics: Valley, Maple, and North County, with hopes to eventually offer these at all locations.
2013 Diabetes Group Visits
Pre-registration is required. Patients can call 509.444.8200 to register or for more information.
Valley Clinic
| Date | Topic |
| March 15, 2013 April 19, 2013 May 17, 2013 June 21, 2013 July 19, 2013 August 16, 2013 September 20, 2013 October 18, 2013 November 15, 2013 December 20, 2013 | Know Your Healthy Numbers Oral Health Stepping into Activity Diabetes Drugs Dining Out & Eating on the Road Monitoring and Your Meter Insulin-Facts and Myths The Natural Progression of Diabetes Holiday Meal Planning Coping with Diabetes Emotions |
Maple St. Clinic
| Date | Topic |
| March 22, 2013 April 19, 2013 May 17, 2013 June 28, 2013 July 12, 2013 August 9, 2013 September 20, 2013 October 18, 2013 November 15, 2013 December 27, 2013 | Monitoring and Your Meter Know Your Healthy Numbers Foot and Eye Care Stepping into Activity Diabetes Drugs Dining Out & Eating on the Road Insulin-Facts and Myths The Natural Progression of Diabetes Holiday Meal Planning Coping with Diabetes Emotions |
North County Clinic
| Date | Topic |
| March 28, 2013 April 18, 2013 May 23, 2013 June 20, 2013 July 25, 2013 August 22, 2013 September 26, 2013 October 24, 2013 November 21, 2013 December 19, 2013 | Know Your Healthy Numbers Foot, Eye and Oral Care Stepping into Activity Dining Out & Eating on the Road Diabetes Drugs Monitoring and Your Meter Insulin-Facts and Myths The Natural Progression of Diabetes Holiday Meal Planning Coping with Diabetes Emotions |
