Health Checks at MediCare

19/07/2011

Across Northern Ireland, MediCare Pharmacy Group recently offered free health checks in a bid to find some of the thousands of people unaware they have medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol.

These screening events in local MediCare pharmacies were planned to coincide with Diabetes Awareness Week and took place in 30 of our 54 pharmacies across the country.

Reported by Diabetes UK, in 2010, there were 70,000 people in Northern Ireland living with diabetes, thousands more undiagnosed, and estimations that this figure will have doubled by the year 2025.  Diabetes is a condition which can have serious implications including stroke, kidney failure, limb amputation, blindness and the reduction of life expectancy by up to 25%.

Over the course of the week, MediCare pharmacists saw more than 650 patients which resulted in almost 2000 results for Blood pressure, blood glucose and/or blood cholesterol across the participating stores.  Pharmacists referred some patients back to their GPs for further tests due to results which raised concern. 

The health checks MediCare offered only took a few minutes to conduct and having planned the events, appointments had been made for many patients in advance. Pharmacists also took the opportunity to promote the service to some patients who might not otherwise have availed of such services elsewhere, one pharmacist commenting, “I was able to encourage men who did not attend their GP for regular checks”.

Blood pressure was measured using automated devices. To measure the levels of glucose or cholesterol, the pharmacists took a small, finger-prick blood sample. On average 15 minutes was set aside to give time for patients to ask pharmacists advice on health issues, and this worked well. On average, each participating pharmacy saw 22 patients during their health check day, and not all of these had made appointments in advance. Whilst a few patients failed to attend their appointment, this time was not wasted as many others attending the pharmacies that day were very keen to avail of the service.  Overall, 70% of those screened had made appointments in advance with the remaining 30% having been “walk-in” on the day of the checks.

One participating Pharmacist commented; “During testing we had a lot of people drop – in without appointment and the curiosity of other customers heightened when they witnessed all the extra activity in the pharmacy.  The tests were quick and easy to perform which meant that no-one had to be turned away if they were available to wait for up to ten minutes”.

Following the latest training and guidelines, pharmacists referred some patients to their doctor for further tests following the results of the health checks. For blood pressure checks, approximately 6% of those tested were asked to follow up with their doctor.

For blood glucose results, some patients were invited to take a further test on a different day if they had not been fasting in advance whilst approximately 3.7% of those tested for blood glucose levels were referred to their own doctor for further testing.

For cholesterol results, approximately 14% of those tested were referred to their doctor for further testing.  However, to support all patients who availed of this service, advice was offered from the pharmacists which included diet and lifestyle recommendations.

Dr Deirdre McAree, MediCare Professional Services Manager, commented,
“The health checks we offer are a great way of raising awareness about various conditions including diabetes. The whole initiative has been a great success, as it has not only detected some members of the public requiring further investigation by their doctor but has also highlighted the very positive impact community pharmacists can have in promoting public health. To date, at least one patient has returned to let us know their doctor has started them on blood pressure lowering medicine; another has been prescribed oral medicine to treat diabetes and a third patient has been prescribed cholesterol lowering medication.

“The success of this pharmacy initiative has been due to the commitment and dedication of pharmacists, their staff and their desire to really make a difference to the health of the communities they serve. It is clear that the public using the participating pharmacies considered them to be suitable locations to have these health check tests done; and the flexibility of the pharmacists and staff operating on both appointment and “walk-in” basis proved to be one of the key factors contributing to the outcomes achieved.”