Healthcare utilization outcomes of clinical pharmacist-led clinics and remote patient monitoring: Real-world evidence
Xin Pan, Mark Bounthavong, Thomas Brazeal, Anandi V. LawObjective
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) enables real-time data collection, improves care efficiency, and facilitates early detection of disease deterioration, yet evidence of its real-world impact in pharmacist-led clinics is limited. This study evaluated the impact of pharmacist-led care and the association between RPM plus clinical pharmacist-led care and healthcare utilization in outpatient clinics using real-world data.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study analyzed patient registry data (2015-2023) from a managed care organization located in Palm Springs, California. Adults enrolled ≥6 months in pharmacist-run clinics were included. Patients were categorized into three device cohorts: glucometers, blood pressure (BP) monitors, and inhaler sensors. Each cohort was divided into (1) an intervention group receiving pharmacist care with RPM devices and (2) a standard care (SC) group receiving pharmacist care alone. Disease-specific healthcare utilization (hospitalizations, skilled nursing facility stays, emergency room visits) was assessed 6-month pre- and post-enrollment using generalized estimating equation models adjusting for baseline characteristics and reported as relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results
A total of 4,348 patients were included: glucometer cohort (n=1,669; SC=989, RPM=680), BP monitor cohort (n=1,083; SC=970, RPM=113), and inhaler sensor cohort (n=1,596; SC=1,487, RPM=109). Healthcare utilization significantly decreased from pre- to post-enrollment by 47% in the glucometer cohort (RR 0.53; 95% CI, 0.37-0.77), 56% in the BP monitor cohort (RR 0.44; 95% CI, 0.33-0.58), and 60% in the inhaler sensor cohort (RR 0.40; 95% CI, 0.32-0.49). Integrating RPM glucometers was associated with a 50% reduction in utilization (RR 0.50; 95% CI, 0.30-0.84) compared with SC. In contrast, adding BP monitors or inhaler sensors did not significantly reduce utilization.
Conclusions
Clinical pharmacist-led, RPM-enhanced care models were associated with reduced healthcare utilization among patients with chronic diseases. Future studies should explore the impact of RPM across diverse settings using randomized controlled designs to better isolate their effects.