IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIALTY CLINICAL PHARMACIST IN A PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY CLINIC

Abstract

Justin Joy has received advisory board compensation from Akcea Therapeutics and Pfizer Preventive Cardiology Best Practices PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) and icosapent ethyl have been shown to significantly improve cardiovascular outcomes in select patients at increased CV risk. Bempedoic acid is a novel adjunct low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering agent for patients at increased risk who require further LDL-C reduction. Many barriers to access exist for these medications resulting in delays in care, and nonadherence. To address these barriers, we incorporated a clinical pharmacist within our academic preventive cardiology clinic to facilitate medication access through enhanced collaboration between the clinic and hospital-based specialty pharmacy. A single center, retrospective study of patients seen within the preventive cardiology clinic whose medications were triaged by the hospital specialty pharmacy. The aim was to assess the time from prescription order to receipt of first dose for treatment-naïve patients. The medication approval rate, financial assistance use, median LDL-C reduction, and 90-day follow-up LDL-C was collected. A total of 35 patients met inclusion criteria during the pilot period. Prescriptions included: 10 evolocumab, 18 alirocumab, 4 bempedoic acid, and 3 icosapent ethyl triaged by the specialty pharmacy. 19 (35%) patients had a clinical history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The majority of patients had commercial insu…