Team-Based Care with Pharmacists to Improve Blood Pressure: a Review of Recent Literature

Abstract

Purpose of review: We review studies published since 2014 that examined team-based care strategies and involved pharmacists to improve blood pressure (BP). We then discuss opportunities and challenges to sustainment of team-based care models in primary care clinics.

Recent findings: Multiple studies presented in this review have demonstrated that team-based care including pharmacists can improve BP management. Studies highlighted the cost-effectiveness of a team-based pharmacy intervention for BP control in primary care clinics. Little information was found on factors influencing sustainability of team-based care interventions to improve BP control. Future work is needed to determine the best populations to target with team-based BP programs and how to implement team-based approaches utilizing pharmacists in diverse clinical settings. Future studies need to not only identify unmet clinical needs but also address reimbursement issues and stakeholder engagement that may impact sustainment of team-based care interventions.

Keywords: Blood pressure; Cost-effectiveness; Dissemination and implementation; Hypertension; Intervention sustainability; Team-care.

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Depiction of Adapted Schell et al. (2013) Sustainability Framework and Definitions