Pharmacists as ‘health coach’
October 3, 2013
Pharmacists in the US state of
Missouri have a new opportunity
to demonstrate, and be paid for,
their ability to help patients achieve
measurable progress in fighting
several chronic conditions.
The National Community
Pharmacists Association
(NCPA), the Missouri Pharmacy
Association (MPA) and the Missouri
Pharmacist Care Network (MOPCN)
announced a new program
whereby participating pharmacists
act as care managers or “coaches”
meeting every one to three months
with patients to help them work
towards concrete health goals.
It’s an initiative of health benefits
manager American Health Care,
which is establishing a state-wide
network and accepting applications
from pharmacists who want to
be part of the move and provide
disease state management services
to qualified patients.
The pharmacist’s efforts will
be recorded through an easy-touse,
Web-based platform so that
pharmacists are compensated for
documented cases.
Chronic diseases such as
diabetes, hypertension and lipid
management are expected to be
among the focal points.
“Community pharmacists
are highly trained and are
overwhelmingly trusted by
patients, putting these providers
in an ideal position to play a larger
role in the US health care system,”
said NCPA ceo B. Douglas Hoey.
“The opportunity for pharmacists
should only grow more substantial
as more Americans are expected
to gain health care coverage and
the primary care shortage becomes
more acute,” he said.
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