Risk Reduction to Disease Management: Clinical Pharmacists as Cardiovascular Care Providers

Most cardiovascular diseases are caused by modifiable risk factors yet prevalence continues to increase and heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Screening, identifying and appropriately managing high risk patients are strategies to shift the paradigm from treatment to prevention. Pharmacists are an underutilized population health resource despite robust evidence to support their roles as interdisciplinary team members and direct patient care providers in both inpatient and outpatient settings. This article aims to highlight the multifaceted function and impact of clinical pharmacists on cardiovascular risk reduction and disease management.