SEATTLE — Bartell Drugs this week deployed PharmaSmart blood pressure testing kiosks at its 58 drug stores in the Puget Sound region.
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Bartell Drug customers using the PharmaSmart kiosk can talk with the chain’s pharmacists about their results. |
The Seattle-based pharmacy retailer said it’s the first drug chain in the Pacific Northwest to offer the PharmaSmart stations.
"In this era of personalized medicine, the role of the pharmacist continues to expand as a health care provider," Billy Chow, manager of pharmacy professional services at Bartell, said in a statement. "The PharmaSmart kiosk technology is a valuable new frontline tool for blood pressure prevention and management."
To use the PharmaSmart kiosk, Bartell customers insert their arms into a clinically validated cuff and then insert the personal PharmaSmart Blood Pressure Management smart card — available from a Bartell pharmacist — into the kiosk and press start. The test takes about three minutes.
Each patient’s blood pressure reading is stored and organized in the station’s Blood Pressure Tracker software. On patient request, Bartell pharmacists can instantly access the patient’s integrated diagnostic information for a consultation.
PharmaSmart reported that its connectivity network has houses more than 16 million patient readings to date in its Blood Pressure Tracker repository.
The Rochester, N.Y.-based company noted that its software will enable Bartell pharmacists to conduct timely reviews with patients who may be pre-hypertensive or hypertensive, helping them achieve better treatment outcomes.
Other pharmarcy retailers with PharmaSmart kiosks include Walmart Canada, Kinney Drugs, Nash Finch, Safeway Canada, Coborn’s, Loblaw’s, Roundy’s, Associated Food Stores, Leader, Good Neighbor, Jean Coutu, Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, Zellers,
Lawtons, Astrup Drug, Winn-Dixie and Big Y Foods.
