title: Pharmacist Involvement in a Community Paramedicine Team.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hospital readmissions have recently gained scrutiny by health systems as a result of their high costs of care and potential for financial penalty in hospital reimbursement. Mobile-integrated health and community paramedicine (MIH-CP) programs have expanded to serve patients at high risk of hospital readmission. Pharmacists have also improved clinical outcomes for patients during in-home visits. However, pharmacists working with a MIH-CP program have not been previously described. This project utilized a novel multidisciplinary Community Paramedicine Team (CPT) consisting of a pharmacist, paramedic, and social worker to target patients with heart failure at high risk of readmission to assist with coordination of care and education.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article describes the development of the CPT, delineation of CPT member responsibilities, and outcomes from pilot visits.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CPT visited eligible patients in their homes to provide services. Patients with heart failure who were readmitted within 30 days were eligible for a home visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 6 patients were seen during the pilot, and 2 additional patients were seen after the pilot.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imbedding a pharmacist into a CPT provides a unique expansion of pharmacy services and a novel approach to address hospital readmissions.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pharmacy at Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Baely M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Crockett
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pharmacy at Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Karalea D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Jasiak
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pharmacy at Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Todd A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Walroth
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pharmacy at Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Kerri E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Degenkolb
authors.affiliation: 2 Indiana University Department of Emergency Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|3 Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pharmacy at Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA.|4 Butler University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000639:trends; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000639:trends; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000639:trends; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000639:trends; D010865:Pilot Projects; D024382:Professional Role
keywords: heart failure; paramedicine; pharmacist services; readmissions