Patients More Likely to Fill Meds When Enrolled in MIH-CIP Program

Olufunke Sokan, Pharm.D., advanced practice pharmacist at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and lead author of the study to discuss the study findings and how clinicians used tech to monitor prescription fill patterns and counsel patients accordingly.

Patients with chronic heart disease and lung disease are more likely to fill their prescriptions when enrolled in a Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Community Paramedicine (MIH-CP) program after hospital discharge according to a new study by the University of Maryland just published this month.

Prescription first-fill rates increased by nearly 20% for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and 25% for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the first 30 days after enrollment. The six-month pilot also improved medication adherence by 8% to 14% in the 60 days after a pharmacist-led intervention. Because the improvements did not continue beyond 30-60 days, the study authors suggest that adding additional interventions could achieve an ongoing impact on medication adherence.