(1024) Implementation and Impact of Community-based Pharmacist Follow up for Patients Newly Initiated on Anti-hypertensive Medications

Objectives: Pharmacists are the most easily accessible healthcare personnel for many across the nation, and past research has shown that pharmacist-led hypertension programs do improve blood pressure control when compared to usual care. Two outpatient pharmacies in the University of Missouri Health Care system are offering a pharmacist-led antihypertensive pilot program that, unlike past programs, is specifically for patients newly prescribed at least one of the first-line antihypertensive medications. All enrollees who meet criteria will receive standard disease state and medication education at the first visit a few weeks after the initial prescription and will have their blood pressure values monitored and recorded at each program visit. A follow-up visit will be scheduled a month after the first so the pharmacist can evaluate the medication and make any additional recommendations to help the patient achieve goal blood pressure. All visits will be offered by phone or in person based on patient preference and availability. Patients are unenrolled in the program after the second visit unless it is determined a third visit would be beneficial. This study aims to describe the implementation and impact of the health system’s new pharmacist-led antihypertensive pilot program.

Methods: Adult patients receiving education and follow-up through the health system’s new pharmacist-led antihypertensive program from October 2023 until February 2024 will be included in this project. The number of eligible patients who complete one or more visits at one of the two locations for the antihypertensive program will be recorded. Blood pressure values at baseline and study completion, the number and type of pharmacist interventions, and medication adherence tracked through refill history will all be noted.

Results: All results are pending as this project is currently in progress.

Conclusions: Expected project implications include conclusions that this is a viable and impactful program to implement in our health system pharmacy. Preliminary study results will be reported in March 2024.