(1040) Pharmacists' Role in Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Diabetes Management in a Rural Independent Pharmacy

Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe the implementation and effect of pharmacist-led patient education for patients with type II diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in a rural community pharmacy.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and health disparities exist in rural areas. Community pharmacists are well positioned to join interdisciplinary care teams to advance efforts in effectively managing the health patients with diabetes. In rural areas, access to care can burden patients with chronic conditions. Pharmacists are in a unique position and readily available in the community to help patients with their chronic diseases. Expansion of pharmacist roles and responsibilities has gained traction in recent years. In Missouri, the diabetes death rate is higher in rural populations and continues to increase. Pharmacists in Missouri currently have provider status with Medicaid and are eligible to bill Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for medication therapy management, which could include patient education for CGM. A few studies have evaluated the effects of the impact of a pharmacist providing CGM education in an ambulatory clinic; however, there is a lack of information on the role of rural community pharmacy in this area. This study will be performed in a rural independent pharmacy in a medically underserved area to determine the impact for patients with type II diabetes.

Methods: This is a pilot study to determine the impact of pharmacist-led education on patients with CGM in a rural independent pharmacy. This CGM diabetes management program will be available to all pharmacy patients who choose to participate, have a diagnosis of type II diabetes, and are aged 18 years and older. Patients will be recruited to participate if they have a prescription for CGM or if they use insulin but do not currently use CGM. Participating patients will have an initial appointment where they will complete a knowledge assessment and receive education on proper use of CGM. After one month of using CGM, patients will meet with a pharmacist to review the standardized CGM report, receive education, and create individualized goals. Pharmacists will provide personalized patient education based on gaps in knowledge identified in the initial knowledge assessment, and they will contact prescribers to recommend drug therapy changes if needed. Patients will follow up with a pharmacist for an additional two months to monitor glucose and make lifestyle and/or medication therapy recommendations when needed. At each visit, the pharmacist will document percent time in range and glucose management indicator (GMI), any drug-related problem, the pharmacist intervention, the outcome of the intervention, and time spent. Patients will take a second knowledge assessment after the three months to compare their knowledge of diabetes management and perception of their disease state control before and after working with a pharmacist. The glucose percent time in range, GMI, and knowledge assessment score will be statistically analyzed using paired t-tests. The time required to complete patient education and interventions will be analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: N/A

Conclusions: N/A