Role of Clinical Pharmacist in a Heart Failure Clinic

Abstract

Purpose

To determine if the inclusion of a clinical pharmacist (CP) in a heart failure (HF) multidisciplinary team could lead to a reduction in the number of hospital admissions and additionally decrease the clinical signs and symptoms of HF patients with either Medicaid or no medical insurance.

Methods

Longitudinal study to determine the impact of a pharmaceutical-care service program to HF patients by comparing the 9-month period before (pre-intervention) and the 9-month period after (post-intervention) implementation of the program. The intervention of the CP was directed in two complementary functions. The first was direct patient contact and the second was to provide drug information to the medical clinicians.

Results

Twenty-nine outpatients completed the study. Over 9 months, the CP made a total of 216 interventions and had three in-person, follow-up contacts and three telephone contacts per patient. At post-intervention, there was a statistically significant reduction in the total number of hospitalizations (50 vs 23; P < 0.018) and length of stay (LOS) (263 days vs 108 days; P < 0.03). However, there was an insignificant reduction in HF hospitalizations, LOS, and total number of HF signs and symptoms.

Conclusions

Addition of a CP to an outpatient HF clinic can lead to fewer hospital admissions and a reduction in the LOS in patients with either Medicaid or no medical insurance.