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Pharmacy, Health Sciences & Exercise Science
Involvement of Pharmacists with a Community Paramedicine Heart Failure Pilot Program at a Safety Net Hospital
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
Pharmacy, Health Sciences & Exercise Science
Start Date
11-4-2014 8:30 AM
End Date
11-4-2014 10:00 AM
Sponsor
Carrie Jung (Butler University), Todd Walroth (Butler University)
Description
Purpose: In the United States, roughly 5.7 million people have been diagnosed with heart failure, costing the nation approximately $34.4 billion each year in services, medications, and lost productivity. Programs in development focus on disease state education, medication adherence, and lifestyle changes. The purpose of this study is to characterize the pharmacist's role and impact on patient care in a community paramedicine pilot program involving home visits by Eskenazi Health (formerly Wishard Health Services) clinical pharmacists in conjunction with Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS).
Methods: The pilot program was open to all patients at Wishard Health Services who had visited the Emergency Department (ED) or been admitted for either a primary or secondary diagnosis of chronic heart failure (CHF). Patients had to agree to participate in the program, speak English, and have visited the ED or been admitted in the previous 30 days or at least three times in the last 12 months. Exclusion criteria: patients who were receiving hospice or home health services, have cognitive impairment, or had an initial diagnosis of CHF made at their most recent ED visit or admission. The first home visit by a community paramedic occurred within 72 hours of discharge. A second visit occurred within one week with the community paramedic and clinical pharmacist. During the home visit, pharmacists completed medication reconciliation, evaluated adherence, identified drug-related problems, and provided medication and disease state education. All interventions were documented using a standardized progress note template. Follow-up recommendations were provided to the patients' primary care providers as appropriate.
Results/Conclusions: Pilot cases and interventions will be discussed during the presentation. The future direction of the community paramedicine program will be reviewed.
Involvement of Pharmacists with a Community Paramedicine Heart Failure Pilot Program at a Safety Net Hospital
Indianapolis, IN
Purpose: In the United States, roughly 5.7 million people have been diagnosed with heart failure, costing the nation approximately $34.4 billion each year in services, medications, and lost productivity. Programs in development focus on disease state education, medication adherence, and lifestyle changes. The purpose of this study is to characterize the pharmacist's role and impact on patient care in a community paramedicine pilot program involving home visits by Eskenazi Health (formerly Wishard Health Services) clinical pharmacists in conjunction with Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS).
Methods: The pilot program was open to all patients at Wishard Health Services who had visited the Emergency Department (ED) or been admitted for either a primary or secondary diagnosis of chronic heart failure (CHF). Patients had to agree to participate in the program, speak English, and have visited the ED or been admitted in the previous 30 days or at least three times in the last 12 months. Exclusion criteria: patients who were receiving hospice or home health services, have cognitive impairment, or had an initial diagnosis of CHF made at their most recent ED visit or admission. The first home visit by a community paramedic occurred within 72 hours of discharge. A second visit occurred within one week with the community paramedic and clinical pharmacist. During the home visit, pharmacists completed medication reconciliation, evaluated adherence, identified drug-related problems, and provided medication and disease state education. All interventions were documented using a standardized progress note template. Follow-up recommendations were provided to the patients' primary care providers as appropriate.
Results/Conclusions: Pilot cases and interventions will be discussed during the presentation. The future direction of the community paramedicine program will be reviewed.