According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States, killing approximately 659,000 Americans each year—or 1 in every 4 deaths.1
February ushers in American Heart Month, the perfect opportunity to shine a light on the various ways pharmacists can support, and lead, the prevention of cardiovascular disease. As one of the most accessible healthcare providers, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to promote heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease throughout their communities by leveraging their strong patient relationships, medication expertise, and clinical services offerings.
The pharmacist factor
A critical voice and resource in non-emergent patient care, pharmacists can impact heart health simply by providing lifestyle education to patients. Offering health and wellness classes is a great—and easy—way to help patients understand the importance of lifestyle choices. From following a heart healthy diet, to getting sufficient exercise, educating patients is an important factor in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Also, as an accepted source of knowledge and truth, pharmacists provide a great resource to help patients understand the impact certain medications may have on their heart, as well as to recommend any beneficial OTC products.
PrescribeWellness—tools to manage heart health
It’s well established that your patients who suffer from diabetes, high cholesterol, or hypertension are at particularly high risk for cardiovascular issues, and therefore, are likely prime candidates for a pharmacist-lead intervention and managed care.
Fortunately, the PrescribeWellness solution is your pharmacy’s partner in advancing heart health among your patient populations. With its advanced filtering capabilities, pharmacists are able to quickly and easily identify at-risk patients by condition, generate a target list, and then utilize the communications tool to engage those patients with a customized message based on their unique needs.
From ensuring your Type 2 diabetes patients are prescribed a statin to conducting blood pressure screenings and point-of-care testing for cholesterol, to enrolling patients into medication synchronization (Med Sync), there are various ways your pharmacy staff can leverage the tools comprised within the PrescribeWellness solution to help manage the heart health of your high-risk patients—and save them a visit to the doctor’s office!
Want to learn more about how the PrescribeWellness solution can help your pharmacy capitalize on engagement opportunities that improve heart health and lead to better outcomes? Get in touch with us today!
- CDC, Heart Disease Facts
