Walgreen's Ambulatory Care Pharmacists

We conducted a cohort study to evaluate the impact of integrating a retail pharmacy-hired and trained clinical pharmacist into a value-based primary care clinic network on hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) control. The pharmacist, under a collaborative drug therapy management agreement, prescribed and titrated therapies for HTN and T2DM.

Our findings showed statistically significant improvements in chronic disease management. In the HTN group (43 patients), systolic blood pressure decreased by 10.2 mmHg (P < .01). In the T2DM group (125 patients), hemoglobinA1c levels decreased by 1.16% (P < .001). These results highlight the potential of pharmacist integration to enhance chronic disease control, reduce morbidity and mortality, and support overburdened primary care providers.

Implications for the Future

This study introduces a novel model where patients co-managed by a retail pharmacy organization and a value-based primary care network benefit from the combined resources and expertise of both entities. The findings have significant implications for the evolving role of retail pharmacies and pharmacists in expanding access to clinical care and improving chronic disease management. This model suggests retail pharmacies could serve as an integral extension of primary care, bridging gaps in access and alleviating burdens on overextended primary care providers. 

Reference:

Blood, A.J., Saag, H., Chesler, A., Ameripour, D., Gutierrez, M., Nguyen, V., Richardson, C., Fields, C., Clair, J., Yao, A. and Moodley, S., 2025. Integrating Ambulatory Care Pharmacists Into Value-Based Primary Care: A Scalable Solution to Chronic Disease. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 16, p.21501319241312041.