Knowledge Bank

Heart of Ohio Family Health consists of two federally qualified health centers on the east side of Columbus, Ohio. Both Whitehall and Capital Park community health centers provide primary medical care, women's health services, obstetrics and gynecology, behavioral health and substance abuse services, clinical pharmacy services, interpretation, and other enabling services. Heart of Ohio's mission is to provide high-quality, holistic and sensitive care to meet the health care needs of the community. Heart of Ohio Family Health provided care to more than 7,500 patients in 2016. The clinics serves diverse communities, with more than one-third of our patients best served in a language other than English. In addition, 70 percent of our patients have incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The Ohio State University's College of Pharmacy provides clinical support and on-site pharmacy services at both Capital Park and Whitehall Family Health Centers. In 2016, the team of clinical pharmacists, pharmacy residents and student pharmacists provided care to almost 700 patients in the areas of diabetes, prediabetes, gestational diabetes, lipids, hypertension, anticoagulation, tobacco cessation, and comprehensive medication reviews. Recent studies completed at Heart of Ohio have highlighted the impact the pharmacy team makes on the patients of Heart of Ohio. One study focused on the management of patients with prediabetes by the pharmacy team. The results of this study showed a significant hemoglobin A1c reduction in patients managed by the pharmacy team and that there was no statistically significant differences in change in hemoglobin A1c, change in weight or incidence of diabetes when compared to usual care by the primary care provider. Another study completed at Heart of Ohio looked at diabetic patients being managed by the pharmacy team. The results of this study showed an overall statistically significant decrease in hemoglobin A1c of patients being seen by a pharmacist. The results also showed no statistically significant change in hemoglobin A1c when comparing English versus non-English speak patients and insured versus uninsured patients. A study that is currently in progress is investigating the prevalence of untreated latent tuberculosis at Heart of Ohio, while also looking at ways in which the pharmacy team can better serve these patients. Other Ohio State partnerships include coaching by Ohio State nurse practitioner students for Spanish-speaking diabetes patients through the Integrated Second Language Learning Program and The James Mobile Mammography Unit providing more than 300 mammograms this year on-site for our patients. We also serve as a training site for pharmacy students and nurse practitioner students.

AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Andrew Faiella, Clinical Pharmacist, Ohio State College of Pharmacy, faiella.13@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Kristina Naseman, Clinical Pharmacist, Ohio State College of Pharmacy.