Evaluation of a pharmacist-run antiarrhythmic clinic in an ambulatory practice

To describe the impact of a pharmacist-run antiarrhythmic clinic in an outpatient practice.

Blanchard Valley Medical Associates (BVMA) in Findlay, OH.

BVMA is a 15-physician private practice with five pharmacists on staff who run several disease management clinics.

Patients receiving amiodarone or sotalol are referred to a pharmacist-run antiarrhythmic clinic within an outpatient physicians' office. The pharmacist is responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and reviewing results with patients.

A retrospective chart review was conducted to compare adherence to monitoring protocols between patients referred to the pharmacist-run clinic and patients managed solely by physicians, and to evaluate the type and frequency of pharmacist-initiated interventions. Patients had received antiarrhythmic treatment for at least 6 months before the beginning of the retrospective review.

A total of 130 patient charts were reviewed. Adherence for each recommended testing parameter for patients on amiodarone and sotalol was significantly higher among patients managed by a pharmacist, compared with usual care. A total of 62 adverse events were detected, and 39 interventions were made by the pharmacist group.

Patients with pharmacist monitoring of outpatient antiarrhythmic medications had greater adherence to recommended testing protocols compared with usual care.