Abstract: SA-PO0466
Integrating Pharmacists into Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Care Teams: Results from a Learning and Action Collaborative
Session Information
- CKM: Clinical - Screening, Population Management, Care Disparities, and Patient-Centered Outcomes
October 24, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health
- 602 Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health: Clinical
Authors
- Maxson, Rebecca, Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn, Alabama, United States
- Hudson, Joanna Q., The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy, Memphis, Tennessee, United States
- Traynor, Andrew P., University of Minnesota Twin Cities College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Meaney, Calvin J., University of Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Buffalo, New York, United States
- St. Peter, Wendy L., University of Minnesota Twin Cities College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Background
Reducing fragmented care and improving initiation of guideline directed medication therapy (GDMT) in individuals with Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic syndrome (CKM) requires coordinated interprofessional teams as emphasized in the AHA's Presidential Statement on CKM. The Advancing Kidney Health through Optimal Medication Management (AKHOMM) initiative sought to address this need by integrating pharmacists in outpatient practices to provide comprehensive medication management (CMM). This report describes the implementation process and results of pharmacist integration into CKM care teams through a Learning and Action Collaborative (LAC).
Methods
The LAC was an implementation project initiated in June 2024. Teams applied and were selected if they had a pharmacist in the clinical setting, served persons with CKD, and had administrative support. The 4-month preparation phase included pharmacist training in CMM and development of team goals followed by a 12-month implementation phase using repeated plan-do-study-act cycles facilitated by an implementation coach. Field experts provided guidance and resources in billing/reimbursement and optimizing GDMT. Team progress was tracked using a self-assessment tool for 4 performance themes: 1) establishing structure, 2) delivery system implementation, 3) measurement and refinement, and 4) demonstrating value, scale-up and spread. Implementation of GDMT by drug class and medication therapy problems (MTPs) were recorded by each team.
Results
Seven diverse healthcare teams across the U.S. were recruited from primary care, nephrology and population health practices. Six of 7 teams implemented a service with pharmacists evaluating 34 to 216 persons with CKD (Table). Teams improved medication management through GDMT and identification of MTPs and achieved the majority of action points within each performance theme (79-99%).
Conclusion
Using established implementation strategies, the LAC successfully amplified CKM care by integrating pharmacists in interprofessional teams.
MTPs and GDMT by Team
| Team # | # patients | #MTPs | #RASi | #SGLT2i | #MRA | #GLP-1 RA |
| 1 | 216 | 490 | 68 | 124 | 3 | 44 |
| 2 | 68 | 248 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| 3 | 78 | 213 | -- | 11 | -- | -- |
| 4 | 142 | 360 | 25 | 99 | -- | 7 |
| 5 | 37 | 66 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| 6 | 34 | 45 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 5 |
Funding
- Commercial Support – Boehringer Ingelheim-Lilly Alliance and Bayer