Key Points for Pharmacists From the ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway for Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a complex condition, and its clinical course often includes periods of decompensation that represent a deterioration in clinical status. During these periods, patients may experience worsening HF symptoms requiring hospitalization. Heart failure that necessitates hospitalization increases the risk of mortality and rehospitalization. In order to help facilitate appropriate care of patients hospitalized with HF, the American College Cardiology (ACC) published an expert consensus decision pathway (ECDP) that focuses on a multidisciplinary approach. The ECDP is divided into multiple nodes and pharmacists play integral roles in each one. There are many opportunities for pharmacists to optimize medical therapy, reinforce adherence, and provide medication and disease state education throughout hospitalization. This review article will highlight inpatient medication management of HF for hospital pharmacists.