32 Optimisation of care in cardiac rehabilitation patients; secondary prevention MDT

<h3>Background</h3> The timely post-discharge optimisation of pharmacological treatments and follow up care for cardiac patients represents a chronic challenge in the pursuit of improved outcomes. The Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) team within the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Hospital Trust recently introduced secondary prevention multidisciplinary team face to face meetings (SPMDT) whereby relevant patient cases encountered in CR are discussed with a consultant cardiologist on a weekly basis. <h3>Aim</h3> To undertake a preliminary evaluation of the SPMDT. <h3>Methods</h3> All cases raised at the SPMDT from November 2023 until mid-June 2024 were logged in a database alongside the underlying issue/query, date of discussion and outcome. <h3>Results</h3> In total, one hundred and twenty-one cases were discussed at the SPMDT. Main reasons for raising cases at the SPMDT included medications optimisation (N=51, 42%), blood lipids optimisation (N=40; 33%), symptoms (N=23; 19%), investigation-related queries (N=19; 16%), blood pressure optimisation (N=11; 9%) and deviations from the original discharge care plan (N=5; 4%). Main outcomes; medication changes (N=78; 64%), requested investigations (N=25; 21%), arrange to review patient in consultant clinic (N=10, 8%), communication with other consultants/specialists (N=7; 6%), no action required (N=5, 4%), and referral to specialist lipids team (N=4; 3%). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Establishing a consultant cardiologist-supported SPMDT within CR could have multiple operational- and patient care-related benefits. These include timely resolution of clinical queries, facilitation of patient safety netting, optimisation of pharmacological treatment and relevant risk factors, releasing CR staff/consultant time by drastically eliminating the need for relevant correspondence, enhancing referral routes to CR, improving profile of CR and ultimately improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.