Risk evaluation and mitigation strategy compliance for pulmonary hypertension medications after policy implementation with computerized provider order entry support.

Abstract

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. Treatment for pulmonary hypertension includes medications with risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) programs. Health-system inpatient pharmacies dispensing these agents must comply with inpatient REMS dispensing criteria. Implementing a health-system policy with computerized provider order entry (CPOE) decision support may improve REMS compliance. This was a retrospective, quasi-experimental study comparing REMS compliance before and after development of a policy with CPOE decision support that was implemented in August 2019. Patients 18 years of age or older with a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension were included if they received at least one dose of an endothelin receptor antagonist or riociguat while hospitalized. Patients were included in the preintervention group if they were hospitalized between August 1, 2017, and August 31, 2019, and in the postintervention group if they were hospitalized between September 1, 2019, and August 31, 2021. The primary outcome was the REMS compliance rate. Secondary endpoints included the time to REMS compliance and independent factors associated with failed or delayed REMS compliance. A total of 150 patients were included, with 75 patients in both the pre- and postintervention groups. Compliance increased significantly from the preintervention (50%) to postintervention (92%) group (P < 0.001). Time to compliance was also significantly reduced from 770 minutes in the preintervention group to 140 minutes in the postintervention group (P = 0.031). Factors independently associated with REMS compliance were being in the postintervention group (odds ratio, 16.9; 95% confidence interval, 5.8-49.2) and being admitted to a pulmonary hypertension center for comprehensive care. (odds ratio, 7.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.9-21.2). A health-system policy with CPOE decision support improved both the rate of and time to compliance with inpatient REMS dispensing procedures.