Pharmacist-Managed Inpatient Dofetilide Initiation Program: Description and Adherence Rate Post-Root Cause Analysis

Abstract

The aim of this article is to describe the pharmacist-managed dofetilide initiation program at Maine Medical Center (MMC), assess the adherence rate to 8 core clinical metrics, and review adverse effects before and after a root cause analysis (RCA). Core clinical metrics included pharmacist note entered within 4 hours of dose administration, dose chosen correctly per renal function, QTc measurements obtained and reviewed 2 hours after each dose, appropriate dose adjustment per the most recent QTc measurement, documentation of patient education, and assessment of conduction abnormality, drug–drug interactions, and serum potassium and magnesium concentrations. The primary outcome was adherence rate to all 8 core clinical metrics before and after the RCA. The safety outcome was the total number of adverse events. One hundred patients undergoing elective dofetilide initiation were evaluated: 50 pre-RCA and 50 post-RCA. Adherence rate to all core metrics was 14% in the pre-RCA group and 44% in the post-RCA group ( P < .001). Torsade de pointes occurred 3 times in the pre-RCA group and never in the post-RCA group. After the RCA, adherence to MMC’s pharmacist-managed inpatient dofetilide initiation program significantly improved.