A Comprehensive Cardiovascular Preventive Clinic: Is it a Concept that is Possible to Implement in the Military System?

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease has a huge impact on our society and the individuals affected.
According to the most recent data published by American Heart Association (2014 Update),
Coronary heart disease alone caused about 1 in 6 deaths in the United States in 2010. In 2010,
the senior author attempted to explore the concept of truly comprehensive cardiovascular preventive
clinics with goal driven protocols and operated by mid-level providers with different
backgrounds from clinical pharmacy to advanced nurse practitioners. The concept, design and
implementation of the Preventive Cardiology Clinic at Brooke Army Medical Center using a
multi-disciplinary approach with evidence based protocols and standard operating procedures
in a patient-centered design enhanced patient participation and optimized success in preventive
care in a high-risk population. The Preventive Cardiology Clinic resulted in improved identification
and screening of cardiovascular patients at risk, improved implementation of preventive
therapies and achievement of target goals, significantly affected tobacco cessation success
rates that surpasses nationally reported success rates, and improved quality of life. We feel this
concept could be easily replicated using existing resources in most military and other medical
treatment facilities