Project IMPACT: Diabetes

Origins:

Price Chopper Pharmacy served as the lead organization for the Schenectady County community in Project IMPACT: Diabetes.  Headquartered in Schenectady, New York, Price Chopper has developed comprehensive, patient-centered diabetes care programs, including its signature Diabetes AdvantEdge program which provides free diabetes medication, supplies, and a testing meter to patients. Price Chopper also offers on-shelf NuVal ® nutrition scores that assist shoppers in making more nutritious food choices. Scores range from 1-100, the higher the score, the higher the nutrition. These resources ensure patients and shoppers can always access assistance with improving nutrition and diabetes management.

Through Project IMPACT: Diabetes, Price Chopper Pharmacy has partnered with Capital District Physician’s Health Plan (CDPHP) to expand these programs and improve access to care for patients who are disproportionately affected by diabetes.  Price Chopper Pharmacists and Registered Dietitians met with patients one-on-one to provide Diabetes Education, Medical Nutrition Therapy, and Shopping Tours. Education often took place in the Supermarket which allowed for point of purchasing education.

The project goal was to increase the percentage of patients who meet composite Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures and to improve patient outcomes in blood pressure, cholesterol and hemoglobin A1c through pharmacist-delivered education and training.  The HEDIS measurement is a tool used by America's health plans to measure performance on important dimensions of care and service.

Patients who participated in Project IMPACT: Diabetes had an overall statistically significant decrease of A1c of 0.6%.Requir

Contribution:

Price Chopper’s contribution to the program (valued at nearly $10,000), included the coordination and implementation of the Diabetes Education program. Also included, was training for pharmacists and dietitians. Price Chopper supplied the resources for the program such as blood pressure cuffs, scales, laptops and patient educational materials.

Community participation included 60 patients that participated in the program.

Objectives:

Patients met with pharmacists to identify gaps in the patient’s diabetes care. The pharmacist developed a plan to assist the patient in managing his/her diabetes and discussed the seven healthy behaviors, outlined by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. A component of the health plan included three visits with a registered dietitian to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy. Being in a supermarket setting, Dietitians could take patients right into the food aisles to provide concrete examples of nutritional education

The project goal was to engage underserved patients with diabetes and help them achieve optimal patient-centered care. The following clinical outcomes were assessed: blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, cholesterol, foot exam, referral for eye exams, immunizations, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), ACEI/ARB therapy for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes, aspirin therapy for patients with CAD/Diabetes, hypertension therapy when indicated for blood pressure control, cholesterol lowering therapy when indicated.

Impact:

Project IMPACT: Diabetes provided Diabetes Education and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) to underserved patients with CDPHP insurance in the Schenectady and Albany area. Pharmacists and Dietitians were able to engage patients and facilitate regular lab screening and follow up with the Health Care Provider.

The project proved the value of the Pharmacist and Registered Dietitian as a valued member of the health care team. Price Chopper Pharmacists had previously been providing Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services to Medicare patients with CDPHP. As a result of Project IMPACT: Diabetes, MTM services have been expanded to include CDPHP members with Medicaid. MNT has also become an established program and is being provided by Registered Dietitians in the area.

Quote:

“Price Chopper is committed to supporting the good health and wellness of the communities in which we operate, both as providers of fresh, consumable nutrition and as program and service innovators. We’re particularly proud of the professional resources that our pharmacies offer to patients who are managing diabetes, including consultation, free diabetes medication and supplies as well as courtesy refills to help with compliance. Through Project IMPACT: Diabetes, our Pharmacists, and Registered Dietitians have collaborated with our local partner, CDPHP to help provide valuable resources and education to the underserved community in Schenectady.”

Jerry Golub, President & CEO, Price Chopper Supermarkets

Support Statement:

“Price Chopper is a strategic partner with CDPHP in the care of patients with diabetes. Price Chopper pharmacists and dieticians help to coordinate and support the care of diabetic patients through Medication Therapy Management, enhanced communications with patients and providers, bridging gaps in care, and partnering for better access and adherence to medication regimens.”

Eileen F. Wood, RPh, MBA, Vice President Pharmacy and Health Quality Programs, Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP)