Impact of clinical pharmacist intervention on therapy-related problems and costs in a cardiovascular unit of a tertiary healthcare facility in Amman, Jordan

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of clinical pharmacist intervention on patients’ treatment-related problems (TRPs) in patients admitted to the cardiology unit of a university-affiliated hospital; to assess physician acceptance of clinical pharmacist suggestions; and to determine the impact on costs to patients. Methods: To determine the impact of clinical pharmacist intervention on the care of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), a prospective design was applied to compare a standard care group with a clinical pharmacist care group using 100 CVD patients per group over a 5-month period. The pharmacist responsible for patient counseling reviewed the patient records, collected demographic data, clinical data as well as medical history, diagnosis and medication plan. All the interventions made by the clinical pharmacist were analyzed in terms of potential cost savings for the patient. Results: Of the clinical pharmacist’s recommendations, 70 % were accepted by the treating physician. The most frequent TRPs detected were: efficacy (more effective drugs were available), the need for combination therapy, indication (specifically untreated conditions), inappropriate knowledge, adherence, and safety. Approximately 52 % of the TRPs were resolved and 35 % experienced improvement. Conclusion: A clinical pharmacist intervention has a significant impact on the cost of drug therapy and patient outcomes. The results support the usefulness of pharmaceutical care services for all hospitalized CVD patients.