The Endocrine Society, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and Opus Science, announce the launch of their new program in an effort to assess and improve care for those suffering from diabetes. The program called “Improving Quality in Type 2 Diabetes: A National Initiative to Assess Guideline Adherence and Physician/Pharmacist Coordination,” is part of a new U.S. multiphase initiative that is setting out to assess the effects of current in-practice behavior in multiple primary care and endocrinology clinics, as well as pharmacies, to provide care for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes.

The initiative will also examine potential avenues to improve diabetes management by improving care coordination with local pharmacies and/or pharmacists.

Janet E. Hall, MD, President of the Endocrine Society declared:

“We are excited about this unique collaboration between The Endocrine Society and APhA. Our findings should result in new insights into the challenges surrounding type 2 diabetes treatment, and how we can improve care coordination between primary care providers, endocrinologists and pharmacists.”

Marialice Bennett, BSPharm, FAPhA, APhA President, agrees, stating:

“The significant challenges that confront our healthcare system, especially around chronic diseases like diabetes, are more effectively addressed collaboratively, by utilizing the coordinated strengths of pharmacists, doctors and other health care providers to improve quality of care.”

The aims of the program are:

  • To reveal practice-specific obstacles of appropriate glycemic control in primary care and endocrinology in multiple locations and practice environments across the U.S.
  • To assess current pharmacist practices in terms of medication education and patient monitoring of those with type 2 diabetes, and
  • To determine the critical factors of successful interdisciplinary diabetes care by considering the behaviors and attitudes of physicians, staff, pharmacists and patients.

The program has gained recognition from the healthcare quality improvement industry for its unique examination of diabetes care-coordination practices that involved multiple perspectives. The study design as well as its goals and objectives will be presented at the 12th annual Population Health & Care Colloquium in Philadelphia, PA on February 28, 2012 by a representative from each collaborating organization.

Written by Petra Rattue