In a press release, the CDC announced the selection of University of Florida Health (UFH) to lead a program referred to as the Hypertension Pharmacists’ Program. The objective of this novel effort could diminish the health disparity gap in some Jacksonville, Florida, communities by linking patients with community pharmacists to aid in the management of hypertension.

The Hypertension Pharmacists’ Program will debut this summer, expanding access to blood pressure care for the city’s medically underserved, predominantly black communities. The Hypertension Pharmacists’ Program highlights the unique position of community pharmacists in helping patients manage hypertension.

The effort, facilitated by the UFH Jacksonville Office of Community Engagement, is a collaboration among the UFH Total Care Clinic–Jacksonville, the University of Florida (UF) College of Pharmacy, and Panama Pharmacy. It will allow patients to see a specially trained pharmacist at a community pharmacy and seek individualized care and education.

“Hypertension repeatedly shows up in the triannual Community Health Needs Assessment as a significant health factor and concern in our community. Being able to provide health resources through a collaborative effort such as this is a fantastic opportunity for our patients and for the continuum of care,” stated Ann-Marie Knight, MHA, FACHE, VP of community engagement for UF Health–Jacksonville.

The CDC reported that virtually 90% of Americans live within 5 miles of a community pharmacy, making pharmacists the most accessible healthcare provider for most people. Community pharmacists can also make medication recommendations and lifestyle adjustments to help patients better manage their diseases.

The program attained positive patient outcomes in a pilot study by Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor. According to the CDC, the Michigan Medicine Hypertension Pharmacists’ Program reported that 66% of the patients who met with a pharmacist reached control of their hypertension within 3 months, increasing to 69% of patients within 6 months.

Chardaè Whitner, PharmD, a clinical assistant professor at the UF College of Pharmacy’s Jacksonville campus, will lead the Hypertension Pharmacists’ Program. Her efforts were influential in UF securing the CDC’s selection. Dr. Whitner stated that the program will provide critical resources to a community in which three out of four patients with treatment-resistant or uncontrolled hypertension identify as black or African American.

Dr. Whitner stated, “As a pharmacist, I see the impact of social determinants of health every day in clinical practice. We have to think about actionable models that provide access to care. Collaborating with a community pharmacy like Panama Pharmacy, which can provide accessibility through evening and weekend hours and quality, patient-centered care from clinical pharmacists, ensures we can bridge that gap and see better patient outcomes.”

Kevin Duane, PharmD, 2013 graduate of the UF College of Pharmacy, has owned a pair of Panama Pharmacy locations in Jacksonville since 2016. He noted that the program’s collaborative model ensures patients receive a continuity of care from a large, diversely trained team of providers.

Dr. Duane stated, “It’s very important that community pharmacy is involved in clinical and decision-making activities when it comes to a patient's plan of care. At Panama Pharmacy, we believe in a lot more for our community pharmacists than just dispensing medications. The ability to do this work alongside UFH Total Care Clinic–Jacksonville and the CDC presents a great opportunity to help patients better manage their blood pressure; to do it for a historically underserved community makes it even sweeter, especially considering this is the community that our pharmacy lives to serve every day.”

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