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New updates on Heart Failure: Pharmacists Module 3, 2023
This module provides a broad overview of the latest approach to the treatment and
management of chronic heart failure, which takes into account the important and beneficial
effects of new classes of medication that have become available. Pharmacists need to
acquaint themselves with these updated guidelines in order to be able to communicate with
doctors about the latest treatment regimens and to refer patients timeously to minimise
disease progression.
As a pharmacist, you are ideally positioned at the “heart” of patient care. Often being more
accessible to patients than the doctor, many pharmacists have established relationships with
their patients. In this position, you can contribute to heart failure care by helping to optimise
treatment, advising patients about preventative care and non-pharmacological interventions,
and referring patients to their doctor as appropriate.
It is also important for a pharmacist to check all medications prescribed for a patient and
screen for any possible or potential drug interactions. This may occur when a new treatment
is added to the patient’s regimen, in which case the prescribing doctor should be notified as
appropriate. In addition, as a pharmacist, you can make patients aware regarding their use
of over-the-counter medications, such as NSAIDs or any other medication that may interfere
with their treatment for heart failure.
