About the Virtual Pharmacy

Sutter Health’s Virtual Pharmacy for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) program is staffed by a team of specially trained pharmacists who work closely with cardiologists. The program is designed to help CHF patients manage their condition and improve their quality of life.

Pharmacists serve as a resource for patients—referred by their physician—to learn more about their heart disease and understand their medications. There is no cost or insurance needed to enroll in this telephone support program.

How It Works

Pharmacists review a patient’s health history, medications and current home management, and offer a personalized assessment.

Pharmacists will also:

• Educate patients about Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
• Help patients recognize signs and symptoms of worsening CHF and know when to get help
• Optimize medication treatment
  • Provide education on how they work, how to take them, and how to identify possible side effects
  • Help review the costs of their medications and find out if they can switch to a lower-cost version from their pharmacy
  • Order new heart failure medications or adjust medications to the right dose so patients can live longer and healthier lives
• Help patients understand how eating food with too much sodium and drinking too much liquid can worsen CHF
• Describe the importance of daily weigh-ins and proper weighing techniques
• Help patients take care of themselves and manage their condition

Certain suggestions may be made, including a change in current medication regimen, recording daily weights, sodium and fluid restrictions, and medication adherence.

We ask patients to:

• Keep an open mind, and be willing to make changes (e.g., medications, lifestyle)
• Achieve realistic goals. We won’t be able to “cure” heart failure, but we will take steps toward stabilizing their condition and improving their overall quality of life
• Be present and ready to discuss their health at our scheduled phone appointments
• Let us know in advance if they will not be available and need to reschedule
• Seek medical evaluation at signs of worsened congestion or discomfort related to your heart failure

The Virtual Pharmacy team maintains continuity with the patient’s primary care provider and cardiologist to provide the best care possible.

Are you a referring physician? Please visit our referral page for more information.