The patient pathway in cardiovascular care: A position paper from the International Pharmacists for Anticoagulation Care Taskforce (iPACT)

Abstract

Background This position paper highlights the opportunistic integral role of the pharmacist across the patient pathway utilizing cardiovascular care as an example. The paper aims to highlight the potential roles that pharmacists worldwide can have (or already have) to provide efficient patient care in the context of interprofessional collaboration. Methods It results from a literature review and experts seeking advice to identify existing interventions and potential innovative interventions. We developed a conceptual framework highlighting seven critical phases in the patient pathway and for each of those listed some of the initiatives identified by our experts worldwide. Results Existing pharmacists' interventions in each of these phases have been identified globally. Various examples in the area of prevention and self‐management were found to exist for long; the contribution for early detection and subsequently to timely diagnosis were also quite clear; integration of care was perhaps one of the areas needing greater development, although interventions in secondary care were also quite common. Tertiary care and end of life interventions were found to often be left for other healthcare professionals. Conclusion On the basis of the findings, we can argue that much has been done but globally consider that pharmacists are still an untapped resource potentially useful for improved patient care.

Improving patient pathways for systemic lupus erythematosus: a multistakeholder pathway optimisation study

“…15 In France, as well as in most European countries, the healthcare system is publicly funded and access to ANA testing is not a significant limitation. However, in most European countries, there are insufficient physicians in primary care for timely and adequate patient detection and monitoring, 16 as well as significant imbalance between resource and demand for specialised care, which may result in additional delay in referral from primary to secondary or tertiary care.…”