Heart to Heart: Outpatient Medication Management in Heart Failure
Target Audience: Pharmacy Tech
Course Overview
Heart failure (HF) is a complex, chronic condition with significant morbidity and mortality. Understanding the pathophysiology of HF is crucial, as it involves intricate mechanisms beyond simple heart dysfunction. Various medications are available to manage HF, and treatment must be tailored to individual patient needs through shared clinical decision-making. Patients must adhere to myriad pharmacotherapies in addition to lifestyle changes to control symptoms and prevent disease progression and worsening. Effective outpatient management of HF requires a collaborative approach to optimize treatment outcomes and improve patients' quality of life. Pharmacy teams are vital in recognizing symptoms, ensuring adherence to therapeutic regimens, and providing comprehensive patient education.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe the signs and symptoms of heart failure
- Recognize medications used to treat heart failure
- Demonstrate strategies to improve care and outcomes for patients with heart failure
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. Heart Failure Development and Diagnosis
A. Heart Failure’s Effects on the Body
B. Classifying Heart Failure
III. Treating Heart Failure: A Stage-based Approach
A. Stage A: Primary Prevention
B. Stage B: Preventing Symptomatic HF
C. Stage C and D: Non-Pharmacologic and Pharmacologic Interventions
IV. Pharmacotherapy for Heart Failure
A. RAAS-Acting Agents
B. Beta Blockers
C. Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists
D. SGLT2 Inhibitors
E. Diuretics
F. Vasodilators
G. Other Therapies
V. Improving Care for Patients with Heart Failure
A. Improving Patient Self-Care
B. Optimizing Transitions of Care
C. Identifying Medications that May Exacerbate HF
VI. Summary
From October 26, 2024 through October 26, 2027, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Kelsey Giara, PharmD, RPh, and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. Pamela Sardo and Kelsey Giara have no conflicts of interest or financial relationships regarding the subject matter. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
Please ensure the device you plan to use meets these requirements:
- Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 / Mac OS X 10.9 or later / iOS / Android
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- A connection to the internet
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
PTCB Recognition
RxCe.com, LLC, offers pharmacy technician continuing education courses for PTCB recertification. Pharmacy technician courses are indicated both in the Target Audience description and the ACPE UAN which will end with a "T".