CCCS program linked to lower healthcare costs in CAD patients

Among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), participating in a secondary prevention program featuring a clinical pharmacy specialist and registered nurse is associated with lower healthcare expenditures, according to research published in the November issue of Pharmacotherapy, HealthDay News reported.

Thomas Delate, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente Colorado in Aurora, and colleagues analyzed data from 628 patients who had a coronary event and were enrolled in the Collaborative Cardiac Care Service (CCCS), which was managed by a clinical pharmacy specialist and registered nurse. They were matched to 628 patients not enrolled in the CCCS group. The primary outcome was total medical and pharmacy expenditures per follow-up day.

Researchers found that cardiac and all-cause deaths were less likely in the CCCS group (12 and 16, respectively vs 98 and 188, respectively, in the non-CCCS group). After adjusting for a number of variables, the total healthcare expenditures per day were $59.36 lower for the CCCS group.

“A collaborative effort among healthcare providers is important for the long-term management of secondary prevention patients,” Dr Delate told Formulary. “Each type of provider brings expertise that, when engaged in a systematic collaborative effort, results in a synergistic effect whereby recurrent events, mortality, and healthcare utilization are reduced.”