NACDS’ Anderson touts pharmacists’ role in diabetes management
The important role of community pharmacy practice and of NACDS members’ philanthropic initiatives in helping to prevent and manage diabetes are highlighted in a Morning Consult op-ed written by National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and CEO Steve Anderson
“Two of the central areas where pharmacies and pharmacists have the greatest impact in diabetes are medication management and behavior change programs to improve eating habits and increase physical activity. Beyond these critical factors, pharmacists are also key in working with patients on the lifelong management of diabetes,” Anderson wrote.
Anderson described pharmacists’ extensive education, as well as the accessibility and trusted care that pharmacies bring to neighborhoods nationwide. He also mentioned the public's strong support for enhancing patients’ access to pharmacist-provided services.
“Most Americans (89%) live within five miles of a community pharmacy. Ninety percent of Americans say that pharmacies are easy to access, and 82% of Americans have a favorable opinion of their pharmacists,” Anderson said. “Pharmacists’ education empowers them to do more to improve patient health and quality of life, which is why voters support Medicare enrollees being able to receive newer services from their pharmacists. In fact, 81% of voters support pharmacists being able to help Medicare patients with managing illnesses like diabetes.”
The opinion research findings are from a January 2018 survey of registered voters conducted by Morning Consult and commissioned by NACDS.
Anderson also described NACDS’ 2017 Chain Pharmacy Community Engagement Report. In a survey and interviews that were the basis for the report, NACDS chain member companies identified diabetes prevention and healthy meals as one of the top three areas of focus for creative programs and philanthropic pursuits beyond their daily work in healthcare delivery.
The new “Rx for the National Diabetes Prevention Program,” a roadmap for pharmacists developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help prevent new cases of type 2 diabetes, was also noted by Anderson.
“The prevention and management of diabetes require constant focus, and community pharmacists are ideal partners in that important work,” Anderson said.
“Two of the central areas where pharmacies and pharmacists have the greatest impact in diabetes are medication management and behavior change programs to improve eating habits and increase physical activity. Beyond these critical factors, pharmacists are also key in working with patients on the lifelong management of diabetes,” Anderson wrote.
Anderson described pharmacists’ extensive education, as well as the accessibility and trusted care that pharmacies bring to neighborhoods nationwide. He also mentioned the public's strong support for enhancing patients’ access to pharmacist-provided services.
“Most Americans (89%) live within five miles of a community pharmacy. Ninety percent of Americans say that pharmacies are easy to access, and 82% of Americans have a favorable opinion of their pharmacists,” Anderson said. “Pharmacists’ education empowers them to do more to improve patient health and quality of life, which is why voters support Medicare enrollees being able to receive newer services from their pharmacists. In fact, 81% of voters support pharmacists being able to help Medicare patients with managing illnesses like diabetes.”
The opinion research findings are from a January 2018 survey of registered voters conducted by Morning Consult and commissioned by NACDS.
Anderson also described NACDS’ 2017 Chain Pharmacy Community Engagement Report. In a survey and interviews that were the basis for the report, NACDS chain member companies identified diabetes prevention and healthy meals as one of the top three areas of focus for creative programs and philanthropic pursuits beyond their daily work in healthcare delivery.
The new “Rx for the National Diabetes Prevention Program,” a roadmap for pharmacists developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help prevent new cases of type 2 diabetes, was also noted by Anderson.
“The prevention and management of diabetes require constant focus, and community pharmacists are ideal partners in that important work,” Anderson said.