One-year program aims to help pharmacists reduce patients' BP

NEW YORK — PharmaSmart International Inc. and Chain Drug Review have teamed up to help pharmacists help their patients lower their blood pressure.

Under the partnership, PharmaSmart biometric screening technology and health IT systems will serve as the driver for generating and streaming patients’ blood pressure readings to a secure, HIPPA-compliant data center. Qualified clinicians will assess confidential data during the one-year program.

A secure and dedicated portal that delivers de-identified results will be accessible through the Chain Drug Review website and powered by PharmaSmart’s PS DataSmart health IT database.

Pharmacists who achieve the most success in helping patients lower their blood pressure will win a choice of prizes, including a contribution to their charity of choice, travel and a Sony PlayStation and/or an Apple iPad. Prizes, which also will include multiple pizza parties throughout the program’s duration, will be awarded to individuals or groups.

A portal that outlines rules for participation, program registration and specifics about the program is scheduled to launch in November.

Through the program, PharmaSmart and Chain Drug Review aim to boost awareness of the need to prevent and manage chronic disease — including such conditions as hypertension — across the community pharmacy sector as well as highlight the broader role that retail pharmacists can play in health care.

“Lowering patient blood pressure is an essential ingredient to the success of today’s health care system,” said Ashton Maaraba, chief operations officer and general manager at PharmaSmart, based in Rochester, N.Y. “Thousands of pharmacies across U.S. and Canada utilize PharmaSmart technology as a valuable, out-of-office resource tool to help control patient blood pressure. Teaming up with Chain Drug Review, an outstanding media partner, provides the industry with a unique channel to generate awareness and to advance the overarching goal between both companies and community. ”

PharmaSmart’s health screening kiosks offer pharmacists and physicians an accessible, low-cost and effective solution for monitoring blood pressure that they can recommend to patients. For retail pharmacies, the technology provides pharmacists with an opportunity to coordinate care with local doctors in support of improved hypertension screening, diagnosis and therapy management.

“Chain Drug Review is extremely excited to partner with PharmaSmart on this unique, collaborative effort, and in turn bring attention to the positive impact that community pharmacists can have on the control of hypertension among their patients,” said Jeff Woldt, vice president and editorial director of Chain Drug Review, based in New York.

PharmaSmart currently serves more than 6,500 locations, including such retail pharmacies as Brookshire Grocery, Kinney Drugs, Bartell Drugs, Sav-Mor Rx/Sav-On Drugs, Nash Finch, Roundy’s/Mariano’s, Associated Food Stores, Leader, Health Mart, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, Astrup Drug, Winn-Dixie, Big Y Foods, Harmons Grocery, Walmart Canada, Safeway Canada, Loblaw, Jean Coutu, Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall and Sobeys/Lawtons. PharmaSmart also serves major work sites, military bases, university schools of pharmacy, hospitals and medical clinics. The company’s PS DataSmart health IT database  holds more than 40 million targeted patient blood pressure readings.