The role of a clinical pharmacist in self-care in heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a major health problem in the contemporary societies and one of the most common chronic syndromes, associated with high mortality and intensive healthcare resource use, both human and financial. Therapeutic strategies should include monitoring of the patients’ health status since the hospital discharge, optimization of drug therapy, and modification of environmental factors. Self-care offers a significant strategic potential to relieve healthcare system in HF, allowing targeted resource transfer and potential increase of the healthcare system efficiency. Involving the clinical pharmacist in the process of self-care in regard to optimization of the drug treatment used, standardization of drug treatment during patient transfer between various areas of healthcare, clarification of recommendations regarding drug use, and professional counselling has significant consequences translating to an increased therapy effectiveness and healthcare resource utilisation. Promoting self-care in HF should be a strategic priority, and incorporation of self-care within the routine medical care for HF patients should be considered equally important to providing the patient with medications necessary to control this syndrome. This synergistic approach will result in a reduced readmission rate and an improved quality of life of patients with HF.