INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & OPINION

Phannacist intervention improves diabetes-related outcomes

Health outcomes are improved when pharmacists are active participants on healthcare teams, claim members of the Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound in an article in the December 1996 issue of Managed Pharmaceutical Report.

Group Health found that pharmacists can prevent problematic drug interactions, make recommendations to providers based on reviews of patients' drug histories, and, as they are the last stop during a visit, boost patient confidence.

in 'frail elderly' patients with diabetes mellitus, pharmacists detected 197 'drug-related' problems during 136 patient visits and recommended discon­tinuation of ~ 1 drug in 30% of patients. These recom­mendations were agreed to by a physician in 97% of cases and translated into cost savings of $US l00/patient/year. - Reuters. http://www.reutershealth.com; 15 Jan 1997

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1173-550319710097-00091$01.00° Adi. International Limited 1997. All right. reserved PhannacoEconomics & Ou1comes News 1 Fab 1997 No. 97

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