Evaluation of patient and provider satisfaction with a pharmacist-managed lipid clinic in a Veterans Affairs medical center.

PURPOSE: Patient and provider satisfaction with a pharmacist-managed lipid clinic in a Veterans Affairs medical center were assessed.
METHODS: All patients at Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center who were referred to a pharmacist-managed lipid clinic for drug therapy management were mailed a questionnaire addressing overall satisfaction with care provided by the lipid clinic. Chart reviews were performed for patients completing the questionnaire to ascertain lipid-lowering medications used, changes in serum cholesterol levels, and achievement of low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol goal. Health care providers referring patients to the lipid clinic were sent an anonymous electronic questionnaire to assess provider satisfaction with the clinic. Responses to the questionnaire were rated on a Likert scale (strongly agree, somewhat agree, neutral, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree). A paired t test was used to assess the percent change in lipid values, and chi-square analysis was used to evaluate the achievement of each patient's LDL cholesterol goal.
RESULTS: Surveys were sent to 224 patients and 104 providers. A total of 105 patients (47%) and 49 providers (47%) completed the questionnaire. Most patients and providers expressed satisfaction with the clinic, with 91.4% of patients and 87.8% of providers indicating that they were strongly or somewhat satisfied with the care provided by the pharmacist-managed clinic. Attainment rates of goal LDL cholesterol levels increased from 8.6% at baseline to 53.3% at discharge or the most recent measurement (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Most patients and providers were satisfied with the services provided by the pharmacist-managed lipid clinic. The clinic helped improve patients' LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.