Category: Federal Forum Posters
Purpose: Clinical Pharmacy Specialists (CPS) have proven to be essential members of the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care team. Several studies have shown the positive effects of pharmacist intervention on patients’ asthma control by providing education and improving inhaler technique. Pharmacists at the VA have a unique scope of practice that enables them to initiate and adjust medication therapy based on veterans’ specific needs. The expansion of a CPS-managed asthma clinic will allow veterans of VA Central Iowa Health Care System to be provided with optimal asthma management utilizing the most up-to-date guidelines.
Methods: This quality improvement (QI) project is exempt from the institutional review board (IRB). Prescribing privileges of pharmacists are outlined within an existing scope of practice. This project will be reviewed by pharmacy leadership and the interdisciplinary Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. Patients followed by primary care and geriatric providers with a diagnosis of asthma identified using a facility database are eligible for enrollment. Exclusion criteria include veterans: 1.) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosis, 2.) followed by a non-VA provider, 3.) followed by a pulmonologist, 4.) 80 years of age or greater, and 5.) residing in a long-term care facility. Following enrollment, veterans will be transitioned to appropriate medication therapy based on the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2018 guidelines. Patients will be followed-up by their designated CPS as indicated until asthma is controlled on appropriate therapy. The primary outcome is change in asthma control using the GINA 2018 asthma symptom control assessment tool. Secondary outcomes include: number of asthma action plans provided, number of pulmonary function tests (PFT) ordered, number and types of pharmacist interventions, number of asthma related hospitalizations and emergency department visits, and number of patients misdiagnosed with asthma.
Results: non applicable
Conclusion: not applicable
Kate Sieps
– PGY1 Pharmacy Resident, VA Central Iowa Health Care System, Waukee, IA145 Views