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Multidisciplinary approach to caring for women with gestational diabetes: Impact of clinical pharmacy visits on glycemic control and perinatal outcomes
Thursday April 24, 2025 9:30am - 9:45am EDT
Athena D
Title: Multidisciplinary approach to caring for women with gestational diabetes: Impact of clinical pharmacy visits on glycemic control and perinatal outcomes


Authors: Teri Templin, Brianna Novak, Lindsay M. Green, Jonathan Hughes, Joel C. Marrs


Background: 
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a complex condition that requires frequent blood sugar monitoring and tighter glycemic control compared with a nonpregnant patient with diabetes. GDM can lead to many adverse outcomes for the mother and baby if left unmanaged. Additionally, it can leave many pregnant mothers feeling overwhelmed and confused by the abrupt changes needed in their lifestyle and medical care. Ascension Medical Partners Saint Louise Family Medicine Center has clinical pharmacists integrated into direct patient care services for co-management of long term disease states. Though clinical pharmacists play a huge role in co-managing patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, there is little evidence to determine the impact of clinical pharmacy services on patients with gestational diabetes. The primary objective of this study is to identify if incorporating a clinical pharmacist into the antenatal care of a patient with gestational diabetes will result in improved glycemic control and, thus, decrease the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. The secondary objective seeks to identify if clinical pharmacy co-management improves the patient’s understanding of gestational diabetes and overall satisfaction with their care. The potential impact of this study could highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach as standard of care in women with gestational diabetes.


Methods:
This quality improvement project evaluates the introduction of clinical pharmacists into the routine care of obstetric patients diagnosed with gestational diabetes at the Ascension Medical Partners Saint Louise Family Medicine Center. The intervention group will be recruited from our current pregnant population from October 1, 2024 to March 30, 2025. Eligible participants will be determined based on the results of the oral glucose tolerance test between 24 to 28 weeks gestation. All patients 18 years or older and diagnosed with gestational diabetes will be counseled using a standard script discussing the details of the diagnosis, instructions for dietary modifications and measuring blood glucose values, and perinatal risks associated with GDM. All participants will be instructed to measure blood glucose four times a day (fasting and 2 hours postprandial) and maintain a log of blood glucose readings to bring to each visit. We will retrospectively compare glucose control of previous gestational diabetes patients without clinical pharmacist intervention to those who are currently undergoing standard of care in addition to co-management with clinical pharmacy. This study aims to determine if involvement of clinical pharmacy improves patient and perinatal outcomes, as well as improves patient’s understanding of their condition. Primary endpoints will include the initial oral glucose intolerance test, glucose values recorded by the patient, and perinatal outcomes. Secondary endpoints will include patient surveys completed at the first and last visit to address understanding of disease state and satisfaction with care. 


Results: In Progress


Conclusion: In Progress
Moderators
avatar for Brandi Dahl

Brandi Dahl

Assistant Professor, East Tennessee State University - Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy (Ambulatory Care) PGY2
Brandi Dahl, PharmD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy. She also holds an appointment as clinical faculty with the ETSU Family Physicians of Bristol. Dr. Dahl received her pharmacy degree... Read More →
Presenters
avatar for Teri Templin

Teri Templin

PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Resident, Ascension Saint Thomas Medical Group
My name is Teri Templin, and I am the PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Resident at Ascension Saint Thomas Medical Group located in Murfreesboro and Nashville, Tennessee. I specialize in chronic disease state management with an emphasis on diabetes, lipids, and hypertension. I completed... Read More →
Evaluators
avatar for Naomi Yates

Naomi Yates

Manager, Clinical Pharmacy Services, KFHP - Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia (Ambulatory)PGY2
Thursday April 24, 2025 9:30am - 9:45am EDT
Athena D
  Ambulatory Care (AMB), Ascension Saint Thomas Health
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