Pharmacy program for monitoring diabetic patients.

Pharmacist involvement in a program for monitoring and treating diabetic patients in a 58-bed Indian Health Service hospital is described. Using guidelines established in conjunction with the medical staff, pharmacists interviewed patients to determine the status of their disease, evaluated laboratory data, and decided whether to dispense refills or have the patient evaluated by a physician. The pharmacist also provided patient education concerning the disease, treatment and self-care. During a 19-month period, 50% of 193 diabetic patients were monitored primarily by pharmacists. The increased involvement of the pharmacists has resulted in better use of their abilities and has freed more time for physicians to spend with patients who have complications.