Study of an Intervention to Improve Use of Life-saving Medications for Heart Disease

Clinical pharmacist will review purpose of medications of interest (beta-blockers, statins, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACEI)/Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB), aspirin, and other anti-platelets) with the subject. A written list of tips for remembering medications will be provided and reviewed.

Subject is provided a pill box and briefly instructed on how to use the box.

Subject is provided with a card that contains space for prescription and non-prescription medications. If desired the clinical pharmacist-investigator will complete the card for the subject.

A fax is sent to the designated community pharmacy at the time of the subject's discharge from the hospital. The fax contains the subject's medications of interest, barriers to medication adherence, and physicians' contact information.

The community pharmacist will assess use of medications of interest at time of first medication fill and by reviewing the subject's computerized medication profile at the pharmacy. Assessments occur at first visit to pharmacy, 6-weeks, 12-weeks, 18-weeks, and 24-weeks. If there are issues with any medications of interest the subject will be called. If needed, the subject's health care team will be notified.

The community pharmacist or clinical pharmacist-investigator will fax the subject's physician to notify that a medication has been stopped.

Both groups received routine discharge counseling performed by the patient-care nurse.

A letter/discharge summary from the hospital physician to the community physician listing the discharge medications, procedures, and recommendations.