RESUMO
The Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension-Quality Enhancement Research Initiative Extension Program was designed to support physicians' adherence to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) guidelines. Guidelines were followed in >95% of patients with functional class (FC) II/III, but for only 28.6% of FC IV patients (Month 36). Low adherence was driven by FC IV patients' preference to avoid parenteral treatment.
RESUMO
Deinstitutionalization in the 1960s shifted the care of the mentally ill from state-funded institutions to community settings. Unfortunately, funding to support the treatment needs of this population has continued to be minimized, and countless individuals have not received much needed care. This has resulted in a large increase in mentally ill patients surfacing in jails, homeless shelters, and emergency departments. Subsequently, the federal government has begun to prioritize funding to address the mental health needs of our communities. Pharmacists are in a unique position to influence treatment outcomes for patients with mental illnesses, and the current state of health reform provides avenues for the pharmacist to become an essential part of the health care delivery team in numerous ambulatory care clinical settings. The challenges with adherence, medical and psychiatric comorbidities, polypharmacy with psychotropics, potential for life-threatening adverse effects, and the ever-present need for patient education are but a few reasons why pharmacists can be utilized to provide Medication Therapy Management services for these patients.
