Nebraska medication-management research study gets NACDS Foundation grant

ARLINGTON, Va. — A university research project to look at the potential effects on patient health of incorporating medication management strategies into existing care teams has won a grant from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' philanthropic arm.

The NACDS Foundation said it gave the University of Nebraska Medical Center one of three research grants for the project, which will look at the effects of the strategies when they're incorporated into teams such as medical homes and accountable care organizations.

"Coordinated patient-centered models are promising forums to drive quality and improve patient outcomes while also reducing public health costs," NACDS Foundation president Kathleen Jaeger said. "The primary medical intervention for most patients is medication therapy. Thus, by incorporating medication management strategies into emerging care models, we hope to optimize therapies and evaluate patient outcomes. We are pleased to award this research grant to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in alliance with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, their medical homes and community pharmacy Walgreen Co."

The research will focus on patients with high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes from around Nebraska during a two-year period, using the Nebraska Health Information Initiative, a statewide bilateral information sharing portal that will allow physicians and pharmacists to share data across clinical settings.

"This research seeks to improve the health and wellness of Nebraskans by better coordinating care between pharmacists and physicians," lead researcher, chairman of the Innovation in Community Pharmacy Practice Network and University of Nebraska Medical Center professor Donald Klepser said. "Research shows that when pharmacists and physicians team up, better care is delivered at lower cost. We believe this project will lead to major improvements in the way care is delivered in communities throughout the state."

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