The Impact of Pharmacist-Based Services Across the Spectrum of Outpatient Heart Failure Therapy

Abstract

Purpose of review: A multidisciplinary approach is vital to reduce mortality and hospitalizations in patients with heart failure. As members of the multidisciplinary team, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to care for patients across the spectrum of heart failure. This comprehensive review explores the different facets in which pharmacists can be utilized to impact the care for patients with heart failure, including those with cardiac transplant and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), in the outpatient setting.

Recent findings: Pharmacists can see heart failure patients in a variety of settings to reduce drug therapy-related issues, increase use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), and reduce hospitalizations. Although there is limited data available, pharmacists have also been described in aiding the therapeutic drug monitoring of warfarin for patients with LVADs and immunosuppression agents in the transplant population. Through collaborative practice agreements, pharmacists can provide progressive services such as titration of GDMT and lab monitoring, in addition to medication reconciliation, education, and review for potential drug-related problems. Pharmacists can increase access to patient care by providing services through distance-visits, shared medical appointments, and home visits.

Keywords: Heart failure; Outpatient therapy; Pharmacist-based services.