Kerr honored for MTM, diabetes initiatives

RALEIGH, N.C. Winning new recognition for its industry-leading patient-care initiatives, Kerr Drug has picked up two national awards for its work in medication therapy management and diabetes care.

Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care recently named Kerr its 2007 National MTM Chain Provider of the Year, in recognition of its efforts to steer patients through the Outcomes-administered MTM program. Outcomes is a major administrator of such programs, which are mandated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for Medicare patients on multiple medications who require additional counseling on their drug therapy.

“We are honored by this recognition. It underscores our commitment to meaningful interaction between pharmacist and patient, improved medication use, and enhanced patient safety,” said Lori Brown, manager of clinical services for the 102-store chain.

Kerr is an active participant in an MTM program, ChecKmeds NC, launched October 2007 by North Carolina Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue and supported by the NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund. One of the purposes of ChecKmeds NC is to help ensure that patients take their prescribed and over-the counter medications appropriately. Since the program was launched in October, Kerr’s pharmacists have conducted more than 2,000 comprehensive medication reviews with patients in the program, the company reports. ChecKmeds NC is available to any North Carolina senior who has a Medicare drug benefit, which makes it more widely available than other MTM programs.

Another plaudit for Kerr comes from the American Diabetes Association, which has named the Kerr Drug Diabetes Education Program the 2008 American Diabetes Association Provider of the Year for North Carolina.

“Kerr Drug began an evolution of community pharmacy practice as a home for delivery of clinical patient care services,” noted the company. “The Kerr Drug Diabetes Education Program is a hallmark of this evolution.”