Pharmacists under pressure: Diabetes care at risk

🚨 New research alert! Delighted to share that our article "Addressing potentially inappropriate prescribing in care homes: regional evaluation of a pharmacist-led model in Northern Ireland" is now published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e-hJ9SCS 🗝️ Key findings: • Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) was highly prevalent in Northern Irish care homes, with 83.5% of participants found to experience some degree of PIP • Significant improvements in prescribing appropriateness were achieved following implementation of a pharmacist case management model, with 82% participants experiencing some improvement in PIP • More than 3000 clinical interventions were delivered during the model of care  • Approximately three quarters of participants had at least one medication discontinued  • Several unexpected associations with secondary outcomes were observed with sensitivity analyses suggesting these were due to confounding 💡 Pharmacist-led medicines optimisation via a case management approach can successfully reduce PIP for older adults in care home settings Many thanks to my PhD supervisors Ruth Miller PhD, Gary Adamson and John Mallett, as well as project partners Michael Scott MBE, Carmel Darcy, Anne Friel and Hilary McKee for this positive collaboration. #polypharmacy #deprescribing #olderadults #pharmacy

The evidence just keeps growing!! Important findings from colleagues in Northern Ireland - Pharmacist-led #medicines optimisation in care homes (MOCH) via a case management approach can successfully reduce potentially inappropriate prescribing for older adults in care home settings. National Pharmacy Care Homes Faculty PCPA Primary Care Pharmacy Association PrescQIPP CIC NHS England Tony Avery Wasim Baqir #MOCH #pharmacyincarehomes #NPCHF #Polypharmacy #SMRs #structuredmedicationreview #overprescribing #deprescribing #frailty #ageing #carehomes

A recent report from Wales highlights just how powerful this role can be: the number of independent prescribing consultations through the ‘Choose Pharmacy’ service has tripled in just two years. Between January and May 2025 alone, 75,723 consultations were conducted, compared with 23,807 in the same period in 2023. What’s remarkable is that 90% of patients were effectively treated by pharmacists, while the majority of the rest were appropriately referred. And in the absence of these services, 9 out of 10 patients would have booked a GP appointment, demonstrating how pharmacists are relieving pressure on the broader healthcare system. This is exactly the kind of impact independent pharmacies can have when we empower them to practice at the top of their license.

💊 It’s time to better utilise pharmacists in diabetes care — especially in secondary care. Pharmacists have so much to offer in diabetes management, yet we’re often underused within MDTs. Here’s where we can make a real difference 👇 🔹 Medication optimisation: Managing complex regimens (insulin, GLP-1s, SGLT2 inhibitors) and reducing polypharmacy risks. 🔹 Inpatient care: Ensuring safe insulin prescribing, transitions, and medicine reviews during hospital stays. 🔹 Support for the wider team: Freeing up diabetes nurses and consultants to focus on innovation, like hybrid closed-loop systems and advanced patient education. This isn’t about overlap, it’s about collaboration. Pharmacists and diabetes nurses can complement each other beautifully when roles are clearly defined. To make it work, we need protected clinical time, dedicated roles, and training that supports pharmacists to work at the top of their licence. When pharmacists are fully integrated into diabetes services, everyone wins — especially our patients. #Pharmacy #DiabetesCare #PharmacistPrescriber #NHS #PatientCare #MultidisciplinaryTeam

Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Challenges: When Access Challenges Redefine the Prescription Pad Health care providers often find that insurance limitations turn the prescription pad into a "suggestion pad," requiring flexibility in biologic selection while striving to meet therapeutic goals. Treatment-naive patients may encounter fewer barriers, but for those with multiple failures, formulary restrictions can significantly complicate care. Panelists emphasized strategies such as peer-to-peer consultations, standard use of patient assistance programs, and identifying alternative therapies with comparable efficacy to improve access. Given the heterogeneous nature of atopic dermatitis, diverse therapeutic options remain essential to effectively match patient needs. Cost-effectiveness evaluation goes beyond drug price, incorporating time to specialist care, treatment persistence, side effect management, and quality of life outcomes. Expert Mark Makhinson, PharmD, noted integrated care teams that include clinical pharmacists and specialty pharmacy services are key to ensuring both access and value in long-term care.

USC researchers are launching a major reboot of their pharmacy desert mapping tool — at a time of accelerating pharmacy closures nationwide — in hopes of protecting the public’s access to essential medicines like insulin, antibiotics, contraceptives and flu shots. “Pharmacies are a vital part of the health care landscape, but we’re seeing more closures every day. Ensuring that pharmacies remain accessible — particularly in neighborhoods that need them most — is crucial for promoting health equity,” says Dima Mazen Qato, Hygeia Centennial Chair and associate professor at #USCMann. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/g8kt4Jcv University of Southern California USC Spatial Sciences Institute National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) USC Schaeffer Institute

💊 Eli Lilly and Company taps HealthTap to provide virtual, primary care–driven diabetes management via its LillyDirect platform >> 🔘 HealthTap becomes the first independent primary care telehealth provider on LillyDirect, offering long-term, relationship-based care for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes 🔘 Patients can book 30-minute appointments, often the same-day, and keep seeing the same doctor with direct messaging between visits, 96% of patients return to their original provider 🔘 The move reflects a shift from siloed, condition-specific telehealth toward more holistic care that considers lifestyle, comorbidities, and prevention 🔘 HealthTap follows strict evidence-based practices and operates without its own pharmacy, helping distance LillyDirect from concerns about unsafe or overly aggressive GLP-1 prescribing 🔘 The update comes amid heightened FDA scrutiny of telehealth marketing for compounded GLP-1s, with warning letters sent to several companies, including Eli Lilly 🔘 By embedding trusted primary care providers, LillyDirect is aiming to build credibility with both patients and regulators while expanding into broader chronic-care management 🔘 LillyDirect recently added Isaac Health to its cognitive health lineup, leveraging Isaac’s tele-dementia evaluation and memory-care services to complement its earlier partnership with Synapticure in Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative care #digitalhealth #telehealth #pharma

Across towns and neighborhoods, community pharmacists are stepping up in unexpected ways—leading efforts to close longstanding gaps in migraine care. According to recent coverage, pharmacists at the local level are offering screening, managing medication plans, and proactively engaging with patients who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Their role stretches far beyond the counter. When pharmacists recognize the early signs of migraine, provide counseling on treatment options, and coordinate care alongside neurologists, they become the key connection between patients and better outcomes. In a field where specialists are scarce, these accessible professionals can make a meaningful difference. The takeaway is clear: when pharmacists lead with insight and initiative, patient care elevates. Their work doesn’t just relieve pain—it empowers people to live fuller lives. Let’s celebrate the evolving role of pharmacy, where each conversation and intervention transforms what “local care” can mean. Read more. Drug Topics https://ow.ly/uXen50XeIPw #RxSpeaks #PharmacyLeadership #CommunityCare #MigraineManagement

Pharmacy practice is evolving—and nowhere is that more evident than in diabetes care. Over the years, pharmacists have stepped beyond the counter to become trusted, authoritative providers who help millions of patients manage one of the most common and complex chronic conditions. This shift represents a powerful transformation in how care is delivered and who patients turn to for consistent, reliable support. This evolution didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of decades of clinical advancement, expanded access to data and technology, and growing recognition of the pharmacist’s deep expertise in medication management and patient education. With pharmacists now serving as accessible healthcare professionals in nearly every community, they’ve become essential to proactive diabetes counseling, medication adjustments, and ongoing lifestyle guidance. As the healthcare landscape continues to change, the role of the pharmacist will only grow stronger—bridging gaps in care, preventing complications, and empowering patients to take charge of their health. It’s an inspiring reminder that the most meaningful progress often comes from collaboration and the willingness to reimagine traditional roles in medicine. Read more. Drug Topics https://ow.ly/UJcL50XmfGz #RxSpeaks #PharmacyLeadership #DiabetesCare #PatientEmpowerment

🚨New data from The NPA - National Pharmacy Association reveals that drug companies officially warned the government 28 times a week about potential medicine supply problems in the past five years. 💊 Outdated rules around medicine supply systems are posing dangers to patients, as legislation prevents pharmacists from making substitutions to prescriptions. Community pharmacists play a vital role in delivering the government’s health agenda by expanding access to primary care, reducing hospital admissions, and integrating into NHS digital systems. 🔍 The government recently launched a consultation, closing on 11 December, on the issue but are proposing not to allow pharmacists to make substitutions where there is a Medicine Supply Notification in place. 📝 This is a critical opportunity for pharmacists and businesses to influence policymaking in Westminster and shape a more flexible medicine supply system for pharmacies.  If submitting evidence to the Department for Health and Social Care is of interest, please do not hesitate to reach out and drop me a message. You can read the publication in full here: https://lnkd.in/eT7H9Qey