2003 Open Grants Competition Project Summaries
Kirsten Woodend / Heather Ross
Seamless Pharmaceutical Care for Patients with Heart Failure
Objective:
To determine whether implementing a seamless care model by pharmacists for patients with congestive heart failure reduces hospital readmissions and improves patient quality of life.
Importance for Decision Makers:
We anticipate that seamless pharmaceutical care will reduce the number of hospital readmissions experienced by patients with heart failure and that it will improve their quality of life. In addition, we anticipate that this approach to discharge and post-discharge patient care will be cost-effective. Although this model of care is being studied in patients with heart failure, it is applicable to any patient with a chronic disease who is discharged from hospital on multiple prescription medications.
Description:
A randomized, prospective, controlled trial will be done to compare three approaches to medication management in patients with heart failure: 1) usual care; 2) pharmacist medication teaching prior to hospital discharge; and 3) seamless pharmaceutical care.
Approach:
The effectiveness of this approach to care will be tested using a randomized, controlled trial. Patients with heart failure will be randomly assigned to receive 1) usual care; 2) pharmacist medication teaching prior to hospital discharge; or 3) seamless pharmaceutical care. Patients admitted to the Toronto Hospital or the Aberdeen or Colchester Hospitals in Nova Scotia with heart failure will be considered for inclusion. Patients in groups two and three will receive a half-hour of teaching regarding discharge medications by a clinical pharmacist. For group three, the pharmacist will also complete a seamless care form including diagnosis, brief history, and discharge medications. The primary outcome studied is hospital readmission for any reason. The secondary outcomes studied include healthcare resource use, medication adherence, quality of life, and patient satisfaction with pharmacist interaction.
Project Identifier:
RC1-0999-06
Funding Provided by:
- Canadian Health Services Research Foundation
- Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
- Nova Scotia Research Foundation
Principal Investigators:
A. Kirsten Woodend, RN, MSc, PhD
Director, Research
Canadian Pharmacists Association
1785 Alta Vista Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 3Y6
Telephone: (613) 523-7877 or 1-800-917-9489, extension 225
Fax: (613) 523-0445
Dr Heather Ross
The Toronto Hospital
