Developing a post-myocardial infarction medicines optimisation clinic: core competencies for upskilling pharmacists and initial patient feedback.

Background: Medicines optimisation and adherence support are essential to secondary prevention after myocardial infarction (MI). Following successful implementation of a consultant pharmacist-led post-MI medicines optimisation clinic, the service was expanded by training advanced clinical pharmacists to manage clinics (with appropriate multidisciplinary team support).

Methods: Key steps in the development process were: definition of a key competency framework based on relevant qualifications and experience, knowledge, skills and clinic management practicalities; creation and enaction of trainee-specific development plans to address gaps (including independent learning, teaching from multidisciplinary colleagues and shadowing in clinics); establishment of relevant protocols and proformas to ensure consistent standards (eg, a patient self-reporting tool for identifying adherence barriers, consultation proforma, directory of clinical parameters and pathway for onward referral when needed); phased clinic roll-out, initially under supervision; and gathering of feedback from patients and colleagues.

Re-engineering the post-myocardial infarction medicines optimisation pathway: a retrospective analysis of a joint consultant pharmacist and cardiologist clinic model.

Background: Inadequate medicines optimisation and adherence are significant problems among patients taking secondary prevention medications following myocardial infarction (MI). A novel joint consultant cardiology pharmacist and cardiologist medicines optimisation clinic was initiated for patients recently discharged following MI.

Methods: Patients completed a locally developed tool, the 'My Experience of Taking Medicines' questionnaire, designed to allow sharing of barriers to adherence with medications.