Effect of a pharmacist-managed diabetes care program in a free medical clinic

Diabetes care, morbidity, and mortality are usually worse in poor minority populations compared with non-minority ones. This report evaluates evidence-based process and outcome measures of diabetes care in diabetic patients followed in a free medical clinic and compares them to published results. The following process measures compared favorably with measures of the general population: dilated eye and foot exams and measurements of glycated hemoglobin levels; concentrations of total cholesterol; fasting triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol; and proteinuria (by dipstick). Process and outcome measures in 89 diabetic patients referred to a Diabetes Management Program in which diabetes care was delivered by pharmacists following detailed algorithms (experimental group) were compared with measures in 92 diabetic patients who received diabetes care in the general clinic setting (control group). The patients in the experimental group had a slightly longer duration of diabetes and more microvascular and neuropathic complications, and more diabetic patients were taking insulin than were patients in the control group. All of the process measures listed above were more frequent in the experimental group. Compared with the control group, the initial glycated hemoglobin level (% +/- SE) in the experimental group was significantly (P < .001) higher (8.8 +/- 0.2 versus 7.9 +/- 0.2) but fell significantly (P < .03) more (-0.8 +/- 0.2 versus -0.05 +/- 0.3). The lack of a greater decrease in the glycated hemoglobin levels in the experimental group was not related to the inability of the pharmacists to follow the algorithms, the patients' refusal to follow the recommended medication adjustments, or the lack of appropriate self-monitoring of blood glucose in insulin-requiring patients. It was inversely related (r = -0.36, P < .03) to the number of missed visits, i.e., the greater the number of broken appointments, the less the glycated hemoglobin fell. In conclusion, diabetes care for a poor minority population in a free clinic setting can compare favorably to care in the general population. Pharmacists following detailed algorithms can enhance this care further. Administrative and support system changes that minimize the number of missed visits might further improve diabetes care in this population.