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Collaborative pharmacist prescribing in community heart failure clinics: a pre-post intervention comparison
Matthew Percival1,2,3, Laetitia Hattingh4,5,6,7, Rohan Jayasinghe8
1School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia. matt.percival@health.qld.gov.au.
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Implementing a collaborative pharmacist prescribing model significantly improved guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) optimization in heart failure patients. This approach enhanced clinic efficiency and patient outcomes in Australian health services.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is crucial for heart failure (HF) management, but suboptimal dosing is common.
- Pharmacist-led interventions have shown success internationally in improving GDMT, yet Australian data were limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if a collaborative pharmacist prescribing model improved GDMT optimization in HF patients (ejection fraction <50%).
- To evaluate the model's impact on service efficiency, hospitalizations, mortality, medication beliefs, and quality of life.
Main Methods:
- An interrupted time series analysis compared 12 months pre- and post-implementation of a collaborative pharmacist prescribing clinic.
- Primary outcomes included GDMT optimization at 90 days and clinic discharge.
- Secondary outcomes assessed clinic efficiency, hospitalizations, mortality, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Main Results:
- GDMT optimization at 90 days increased from 19.3% to 40.2% (adjusted OR=2.6, p=0.001).
- Optimization at discharge rose from 43.9% to 88.2% (adjusted OR=13.2, p<0.001).
- Clinic efficiency improved with decreased visit times and increased attendance; HRQoL scores (KCCQ-12, EQ-VAS) significantly improved.
Conclusions:
- Collaborative pharmacist prescribing models enhance GDMT optimization and clinic throughput in heart failure services.
- These findings support the feasibility and effectiveness of such models within Australian healthcare settings.
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