Bartell Drugs introduces BP testing kiosks at its stores

New PharmaSmart blood pressure (BP) testing kiosks are being introduced at all 58 Bartell Drugs locations in the Seattle area starting this week.

Having a testing kiosk in the store helps raise awareness of high BP and informs patients of their BP levels. If a patient is pre-hypertensive or hypertensive, counseling from the pharmacist can help the patient achieve better medication adherence and treatment outcomes.

“In this era of personalized medicine, the role of the pharmacist continues to expand as a healthcare provider,” said Billy Chow, Bartell Drugs’ pharmacy professional services manager. “The PharmaSmart kiosk technology is a valuable new frontline tool for blood pressure prevention and management.”

The PharmaSmart machines use smart card technology to easily record and store patients’ diagnostic information. At the testing kiosk, patients insert their arm into the BP cuff, insert their “My Blood Pressure Management Smart Card” into the machine, and then press start. The test takes about 3 minutes to complete.

The card captures each patient’s private BP reading. He or she can then take the card to a Bartell pharmacist, who can instantly access the data, and based on the results, perform a meaningful consultation with the patient. 

PharmaSmart also offers a web portal and mobile Health IT Solutions app that allows patients to access their BP information.

Patients can get their smart card from a Bartell pharmacist.