Rachel M. Carter (Rister)

Rachel M. Carter (Rister) is a pharmacy resident at PrimaryPlus in Morehead, KY.

“Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that disproportionately affects the population in my home state of Kentucky. COPD progression, and possibly onset, can be prevented by modifiable factors such as proper inhaler technique and smoking cessation. Pharmacist-led remote patient monitoring (RPM) utilizing pulse oximetry will allow a clinical pharmacist to assess a COPD patient's oxygen saturation in real time. Advanced pharmacy services such as RPM and a smoking cessation program, coupled with routine counseling, will allow for more timely interventions, improved patient outcomes, and reduced health care costs over time in regard to COPD. I am proud to be piloting this RPM program for COPD to further advance healthcare and pharmacy services for the patients in Appalachia.

Both of my parents suffer from chronic lung disorders, so I knew that I wanted to focus my residency research on efforts to alleviate the burden of pulmonary disease in Kentucky. Growing up in eastern Kentucky, I witnessed COPD have a negative impact on many of my family members and others in my community. Eastern Kentuckians are more likely to be exposed to tobacco smoke in the environment when compared to the general population and I am motivated to help patients manage risk factors as well as live healthier lives even with a diagnosis of COPD.

The APhA Incentive Grant has funded the first RPM program for COPD in rural Kentucky where COPD prevalence and smoking rates are the highest. I am most excited about establishing relationships with the patients referred to this new program and reassuring them that they have a pharmacist ally advocating for them to receive affordable, high-quality, and advanced healthcare.”