The CPCRS at KPCO has demonstrated successful maintenance of a clinical pharmacy service including pharmacist prescribing under a CDTM model to manage patients with ASCVD.

Utilizing a patient-safety-centered approach, clinical pharmacists were able to reduce the number of patients on against-label statin with cyclosporine while maintaining a comparable level of LDL-C control.

Patients with confirmed elevations in CK level and/or blood dyscrasias had a higher rate of previous colchicine exposure, although low overall, and greater hospitalization rates and exposure to drugs that may increase the risk of adverse events compared with controls. These findings support the 2009 United States Food and Drug Administration labeling for the first branded colchicine product, cautioning use in patients with liver impairment or renal dysfunction and/or those receiving concurrent drugs that may increase risk of adverse events.

Study Funding: This study was supported by an independent educational grant from AstraZeneca. Background/Synopsis: Evidence-based guidelines were published in 2013 by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) for treatment of dyslipidemia. The new guidelines have shifted from a ''treat to target lipid goals'' paradigm to focusing on reducing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk using an appropriate intensity of statin therapy. Physicians need expert guidance on incorporation of these guidelines into practice. Objective/Purpose: To determine if online educational interventions improve the evidence-based clinical decision making of primary care physicians (PCPs) and cardiologists in the U.S. related to the clinical application of new lipid management guidelines.Methods: An interactive, case-based, online CME activity was developed. The educational effects were assessed using a case-based linked pre-assessment/post-assessment study design that separated learners into three categories: improved (incorrect pre, correct post), reinforced (correct pre and post), and unaffected (incorrect pre and post). For all questions combined, the McNemar's chi-squared test was used to assess whether the mean post-assessment score differed from the mean pre-assessment score. P values are shown as a measure of significance; P values ,.05 are statistically significant. Cramer's V was used to calculate the effect size.Results: Improved clinical-decision making was seen among cardiologists (n 5 159; P ,.05; large effect size of 2.057) and PCPs (n 5 545; P ,.05; large effect size of 1.932). Correct responses on post-assessment questions were up to 309% and 288% higher after CME completion for cardiologists and PCPs, respectively. Learning concepts included understanding lipid management per the new guidelines, the percent reduction in LDL-C associated with high-intensity statin therapy, the frequency of 10year ASCVD risk score reassessment for primary prevention, and understanding lifestyle modifications to reduce LDL-C levels.Conclusions: This study demonstrates the success of a targeted, case-based, educational intervention on improving the clinical-decision making of US PCPs and cardiologists on the clinical application of updated lipid guidelines.