A "high-touch" pharmacist-driven transitions of care program may affect 30-day readmission rates for patients with HF exacerbation or AMI; potential processes for initiating transitions of care programs are provided.

Pharmacists were not identified as a primary resource for sports supplements, but athletes would be willing to discuss this topic with knowledgeable and physically fit pharmacists. Pharmacists felt that they lacked knowledge and confidence regarding sports supplement products but noted enthusiasm to provide counseling. Sports pharmacy counseling could be a viable expansion of pharmacy services in community pharmacies with proper education and tools.

Objective: To increase pharmacy technician awareness of medication nonadherence enabling them to identify opportunities to participate in the provision of community pharmacy-based adherence programs. Data Sources: Articles were identified through searches of MEDLINE/PubMed (1950 through December 2014) using the following search terms: "adherence," "role of technicians," "community adherence programs," "adherence and technician's role," "medication synchronization," "retail pharmacy adherence programs," and "CMS Star Ratings." Additionally, resources on adherence programs were used from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the American Pharmacists Association, and the Food and Drug Administration. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Articles describing community pharmacy adherence programs, the role of pharmacy technicians in providing these services, and medication synchronization were included. Data Synthesis: Nonadherence to medications creates a burden in terms of patient health and leads to high health care costs to the patients, providers, and insurers. Initiatives on pharmacist-led adherence programs have proven to reduce these overall health care-related costs. Pharmacy technicians can have an active role in the management of these adherence programs to reduce the burden on community pharmacists who are running adherence programs. Pharmacy technicians can be responsible for gathering medication histories, organizing patient medication lists, making appointment calls to schedule patients, collecting patient demographic history, conducting follow-up calls, and in promoting the program overall. Conclusions: Pharmacy technicians are a valuable asset to the community pharmacists in the process of running adherence programs, and they can work with the pharmacists to coordinate and promote community pharmacy-based medication adherence programs.

Background: In October 2012, a pharmacy-driven Inpatient Diabetes Patient Education (IDPE) program was implemented at the University of Toledo Medical Center (UTMC). Objective: To determine the difference in 30-day hospital readmission rates for patients who receive IDPE compared to those who do not. Methods: This retrospective cohort was completed at UTMC. Patients admitted between October 1, 2012, and September 30, 2013, were included if they were ≥18 years and had one of the following: (1) diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, (2) blood glucose >200 mg/dL (>11.11 mmol/L) on admission, or (3) hemoglobin A1C of >6.5% (>48 mmol/mol). Patients who received IDPE from a pharmacist or student pharmacist (intervention group) were compared to patients who did not receive IDPE (control group). Results: The 30-day readmission rate was 13.2% for the intervention group (n = 364) and 21.5% for the control group (n = 149) ( P = .023). Average time to 30-day readmission was 13.1 (±8.3) days for the IDPE group and 11.9 (±7.9) days for the control group. There was no significant difference in diabetes-related readmission between the intervention and control groups (25.5% vs 21.9%). Conclusions: An IDPE program delivered primarily by pharmacists and student pharmacists significantly reduced 30-day readmission rates among patients with diabetes.

Background: Diabetes prevalence continues to be a concern and the management of diabetes is important but costly. The prevalence of diabetes is greater among persons with a low income, including those who are uninsured or underinsured. Student-run free clinics (SRFC) are one resource to these patients who may otherwise lack access to medical care. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess patient satisfaction with diabetes care at a SRFC in order to assist in identifying areas of improvement. Methods: A quality improvement survey was designed to assess patient satisfaction with overall care, as well as with routines and perception of care related to self-management, healthy eating, and exercise. Results: The survey was completed by 25 patients at a Toledo area SRFC. Established patients who were aged 18 years or older and diagnosed with diabetes, were invited to complete the survey. The majority of patients were satisfied with their diabetes care at the SRFC (88%). Fewer patients, however, reported satisfaction with the treatment for their diabetes (72%) and with their knowledge about diabetes (76%). Subanalyses of survey responses also showed significant differences when comparing sex, age, and length of diabetes diagnosis. Conclusions: The survey helped identify key areas in which the diabetes care provided at the SRFC could be improved. These areas included education about diabetes in general, as well as in understanding treatment, self-monitoring, and healthy eating and exercise options. Future research could explore survey results after specifying and implementing changes made to the education provided to the patients.