Campbell, Blue Cross NC receive $140,000 grant to expand rural pharmacy care

Campbell University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina have received a $140,000 grant from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs Foundation to expand pharmacist-led chronic care services in rural North Carolina.

The funding will support Campbell's work with More Than a Script, a value-based care initiative serving patients with diabetes and hypertension through independently owned community pharmacies. The program addresses healthcare barriers common in rural communities, including limited provider availability, inadequate transportation and long travel distances.

Campbell student pharmacists will be embedded in participating pharmacies as clinical service coaches. They will work alongside community pharmacists to incorporate chronic care management into existing pharmacy operations while gaining practical experience in patient care, practice transformation and value-based healthcare delivery.

"This grant recognizes the important role community pharmacists can play in improving access to care and supporting patients with chronic conditions," said Dr. Beth Mills, chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice. "It also gives our student pharmacists a valuable opportunity to apply what they are learning while working alongside independent pharmacists who understand the needs of their communities. Together, they can help create sustainable services that improve patient care in rural North Carolina."

Campbell and Blue Cross NC will evaluate the program's implementation, patient participation and health outcomes. The research will measure changes in hemoglobin A1c levels, blood pressure control, medication adherence and healthcare utilization, including emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

Outcomes for patients receiving pharmacist-led services will be compared with those of a matched group that does not receive the interventions. The findings will help determine the program's effectiveness and identify approaches that could be implemented by other community pharmacies.

The project will also examine how standards-based documentation can improve communication and coordination among pharmacists and other healthcare providers. This work will generate evidence about the role community pharmacies can play in expanding access, improving chronic disease management and reducing preventable complications.

Through the partnership, Campbell pharmacy students will help extend More Than a Script into additional rural communities while supporting independent pharmacists in developing sustainable patient-care services. The initiative reflects the College's commitment to experiential education, community partnership and improving health outcomes in rural and underserved areas.

Read the press release: In Progress Research - NCPDP Foundation