SIOUX CITY -- Drilling Pharmacy is more closely monitoring diseases linked to heart attack and stroke.
The family owned pharmacy in Morningside is currently one of 26 pharmacies participating in the Cardiovascular Practice Transformation Program, which aims to change workflow practices and improve patient health.Â
"The CPT program focuses on diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure and just helping people identify the numbers, what's working and what's not working," said Sarah Sorensen, a pharmacist at Drilling Pharmacy. Sorensen said the information is passed on to the patient's doctor of choice.Â
The program is made possible by a partnership between the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network Iowa (CPESN), as well as a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is overseen by the Iowa Department of Public Health.
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Drilling Pharmacy is a part of CPESN, a network of community pharmacies working together to make patients' lives better. Drilling previously participated in and graduated from Flip the Pharmacy, which is a CPESN USA practice transformation project that seeks to "flip" community-based pharmacies processes and business models away from point-in-time, prescription-level care to longitudinal and patient-level care.
"It's kind of like an appointment-based model. So, we'll try and line up people's meds to be filled at the same time every month. And, then, I can know, 'You're coming in on the first of the month and you have high blood pressure. What's your blood pressure number? It's the same thing with diabetes and immunizations -- finding people easier with the appointments," Sorensen said.Â
Patients in the CPT program are loaned a blood pressure monitor for 12 weeks. They also receive an informational booklet, which they use to log their blood pressure readings. Sorensen said Drilling's pharmacists talk to patients about what their blood pressure goal is when they receive their monitor. The pharmacists also show patients how to properly take their blood pressure and explain how the patients' blood pressure medications are working and what those medications do for their bodies.Â
"For those 12 weeks, all you have to do is take your blood pressure," Sorensen said. "You turn in your readings like once a month, every week, just kind of, say, when you're in the neighborhood. If it's been like six weeks, we'll give you a call. And, then, we'll fax all those readings to the doctor."
Sorensen said she follows up with patients, asking things like, "Did you talk to your doctor about changing your blood pressure medication?" or "I did send those (readings) to your doctor, did they follow up with you?"
At the end of the 12 weeks, Sorensen said most patients want to keep the meter and keep on taking their blood pressure. She said they have the option to buy the meter.Â
"I think it just helps fill in the gap from that one doctor's appointment to the next doctor's appointment. It just kind of gives a little more data," Sorensen explained.Â
According to Sorensen, you don't have to be a patient of Drilling's to participate in the program through the pharmacy. She said some people have come to the pharmacy for an immunization and, while waiting for that vaccination, picked up a blood pressure meter that was setting out on a table and inquired about it.Â
"It's a little bit harder, obviously, to track the meds. I'm really on the patient to be more forthcoming and stuff. But, we have people on the blood pressure program who aren't patients here," she said. "They'll say, 'That's a really cool blood pressure meter.' And, then, it'll just kind of like snowballs from there. And, now, they're in the program."Â
Sorensen said it's "eye opening" for some people to learn what can happen if their blood pressure isn't managed. Many people with high blood pressure don't have any warning signs or symptoms.Â
"Stroke, heart failure, heart attack -- you could end up in the hospital," Sorensen said of the consequences of high blood pressure.Â
Restricting sodium, exercising, losing weight, limiting alcohol and adhering to the DASH eating plan are lifestyle changes that can lower blood pressure and keep it down. DASH promotes eating vegetables, fruits and whole grains, as well as including fat-free or low-fat dairy products, fish, poultry, beans, nuts and vegetable oils. Foods that are high in saturated fat, such as fatty meats and full-fat dairy products, are to be limited, as well as sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets.
Even if you don't have a family history of high blood pressure and are otherwise healthy, Sorensen said it's a good idea to get your blood pressure checked every now and then.Â
"There's so many people just out there walking around and they don't know. How many people don't have a primary care provider? They're not getting a check," she said.Â