# Implementation Evaluation of PACT Pharmacy Management of Heart Failure in VISN 21

> **NIH VA I50** · VETERANS ADMIN PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYS · 2023 · —

## Abstract

Justification: Heart failure (HF) is a common condition in the VA, with high morbidity and mortality.
Accordingly, heart failure hospitalization and mortality are a focus of VA Safety Analytics for Improvement and
Learning (SAIL). Furthermore, heart failure medical treatment is complex as there are now four classes of
medications known to independently prolong survival and are recommended to be used together. Several
medications require titration to recommended doses while monitoring for uncommon but dangerous side
effects. A national HF dashboard is available to track guideline recommended therapy and shows many
patients are not receiving optimal care. Pharmacist initiation and titration of medications through a protocol
overseen by a specialist, has been found to improve recommended care in multiple randomized trials.
However, few VA sites have fully implemented this practice for patients with heart failure. Accordingly, VISN 21
leadership has made increased quality of heart failure care through pharmacist management a priority.
Several management tools have already been created and made available to pharmacists. The VISN’s goal is
to test an audit and feedback intervention to expand pharmacy management.
Hypothesis: Audit and feedback will increase PACT Pharmacy medication management for heart failure within
VISN 21. Gaps Addressed (Knowledge and Practices). A National HF Dashboard shows many patients are
not receiving optimal HF care within VISN21. Innovation. The use of PACT pharmacists to provide
protocolized care for HF may increase quality of care, improve outcomes and free up primary care providers
allowing them to focus on other patient issues. Given that patients are often referred to VA Cardiology for this
medication initiation, pharmacist HF management can also improve access to VA Cardiology. Evaluation
Specific Aims: AIM 1) Using a cluster randomized trial, determine the impact of audit and feedback as an
intervention to increase implementation of PACT pharmacist management of HF. Hypothesis 1: VISN 21
sites randomized to audit and feedback will have greater use of PACT pharmacist HF management. AIM 2)
Determine facilitators, barriers, fidelity, and cost of implementation AIM 3) At the VISN21 and national level,
determine if increased use of pharmacist HF management is associated with increased use of guideline
recommended therapies, improved adherence to therapy, improved access, and improved patient outcome.
Hypothesis: Hospitalizations for HF will be reduced at sites with greater use of pharmacist medication
management of HF. Hypothesis: Appropriate use of recommended doses for HF medication, as determined
by the VA National HF Dashboard will be improved at sites with greater use of PACT pharmacist medication
management. Project Methods AIM 1: VISN 21 sites (CBOCs and medical centers) will be randomized to
audit and feedback (yes or no for 12 months of audit and feedback). If found to be successful at 12 months,
audit and feedbac...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10753388
- **Project number:** 1I50HX003779-01
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS ADMIN PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYS
- **Principal Investigator:** Paul Heidenreich
- **Activity code:** I50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10753388

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10753388, Implementation Evaluation of PACT Pharmacy Management of Heart Failure in VISN 21 (1I50HX003779-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10753388. Licensed CC0.

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