As part of our Year of the Patient, the College is in the process of developing a pilot project aimed at increasing patients’ adherence to medication. The long-term goal is to improve outcomes by identifying and advancing a new evidence-based practice model that uses EHR and e-prescribing history.

We historically have not taken advantage of data on medication history. In this pilot project, we’ll make minimal modifications to e-prescribing and EHR software, allowing care team members to easily access medication history and use it to identify non-adhering individuals.

The project also will test the effects of two novel interventions to improve adherence:

1. Having a dedicated care team member in the cardiology practice designated as a "medication specialist."
   
   
2. Offering a set of tools the medication specialist and physician can use to prompt and educate patients.  The tools include online interactive patient education, pillboxes, and physician communication tools and techniques. 

Finally, the ACC will develop a reproducible, evidence-based model that can be used by other practices nationally. Look for more on this pilot to come!

*** Image from Flickr (macwagen). *** 

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