Evaluation of Implementation of a Clinical Pharmacist in Outpatient Cardiology Services
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Publication Date
2025
Abstract
Abstract: Incorporation of clinical pharmacists in chronic disease medication management in primary care clinics has been well-established by the literature to improve patient outcomes. Limited information is available regarding the proper model to integrate a clinical pharmacy specialist (CPS) into a cardiology clinic and assess the impact on patient outcomes. Currently at Providence Medical Group (PMG), CPSs are well established and have been managing hypertension and lipid medications for patients in primary care clinics via a collaborative practice agreement (CPA). Now Providence has expanded its clinical pharmacy services to cardiology, however, the recent implementation of a CPS in the Providence Heart Clinic outpatient clinics at Providence has yet to be evaluated. The purpose of this clinical inquiry is to track pharmacist utilization and identify optimal CPS role within the cardiology clinic. This is a single institution retrospective chart review of patients 18 years or older who have been referred to clinical pharmacy from a cardiology provider at Providence Heart Clinic outpatient facilities in the Oregon region from September 2024 through March 2025. As part of the cardiology CPS workflow, various activities performed for the clinic/patients are documented via Epic iVents and Episodes of Care (EOC) as well as standard chart notes. IVents and EOCs will be reviewed to quantify and categorize clinical pharmacy services in the cardiology clinic and pharmacist utilization per month. Manual chart review will be performed as needed. The primary outcome will describe pharmacist utilization focusing on number of patients referred, breakdown in visit types (office vs telephone), indication for referral, and CPS time spent on various activities (appointments, consults, care coordination, population health). Secondary outcomes will evaluate the change in blood pressure, change in weight, and optimization of heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy after CPS intervention(s). Outcomes will be evaluated using descriptive statistical analyses. Results and conclusions will be shared when the project is completed. (IRB exempt) Learning Objectives: • Discuss the literature surrounding ambulatory care pharmacist integrated in cardiology clinics • Describe cardiology clinical pharmacy specialist utilization within cardiology clinics at Providence in the Oregon Region • Quantify the average change in BP, weight and GDMT regimen after CPS intervention(s) Presentation Category: Ambulatory Care/Disease State Management, Cardiology, Clinical Services Development
Specialty/Research Institute
Graduate Medical Education
