A Pharmacist on Your Heart-Care Team: How Riverside’s CPC Clinic Helps Patients

Managing heart health can feel overwhelming. This is especially true when medications have long names, tricky schedules, and possible side effects. That is where Riverside Healthcare’s Cardiology Pharmacotherapy Clinic, also called the CPC Clinic, can help.

Here, Kellye Eagan, PharmD, the lead ambulatory care clinical pharmacist with Riverside’s CPC Clinic, explains that her role is a little different from the pharmacist you may see at the checkout counter.

“I’m a pharmacist that works in the outpatient setting,” she offers. “I work similarly to advanced practicing clinicians, so meet with patients one-on-one, ensuring that they’re reaching their health goals, with the focus primarily being on treatment, not diagnosis.”

What Is the CPC Clinic, and What Does It Offer?

The CPC Clinic used to be called the Anticoagulation Clinic. That means it focused mostly on blood thinner care. Now, it has expanded. “We not only do pharmacist-led anticoagulation management, but now we’re also doing pharmacist-led hypertension. Meaning, high cholesterol, stable heart failure, and then also cardiovascular risk reduction with some weight loss medications,” Eagan notes.

So, what does the CPC team actually do for patients? The biggest goal is medication optimization. Eagan explains it like this: “We make sure that every medication that patients on is indicated for that patient. It’s working for that patient, it’s safe for that patient, and it’s something that that patient can actually take.” That includes checking things like cost, how often a medicine is taken, and even pill size.

The CPC team also works closely with a patient’s primary care provider and cardiologist. Eagan emphasizes that the clinic does not replace those providers. “I never replace the provider ever, ever, ever,” she assures. Her favorite way to describe it is this: “If you think of the provider as a professor, I’m like a tutor.”

This “tutor” approach can be helpful because CPC visits may happen more often, especially at the start. Eagan believes in smaller, more frequent changes, so if a medication is not working or causes side effects, the team can catch it quickly and adjust the plan.

What Can Patients Expect?

A first visit is usually about an hour. The team reviews why the patient was referred, teaches about the condition, and talks through daily routines. “It’s very important to us to understand what’s your routine like,” Eagan shares. Such a schedule can affect which medications are realistic to take.

For many patients, the biggest worry is side effects. Eagan notes the team helps by explaining what is possible versus what is likely and by giving clear guidance on what is an emergency. If someone feels nervous, the team may follow up sooner. Patients can also call with questions. “They also know that they have our phone numbers.”

Is the CPC Clinic Right for You?

Who might benefit most from the CPC Clinic? Eagan reinforces it can help patients who are struggling to reach goals, have many side effects or allergies, or take a lot of medications. “To me, something more than ten medications might make a great referral.” The clinic can even help patients stop medications when appropriate because “We don’t always think medications are the answer,” she adds.

The next step is simple: Ask your provider. Either ask your primary care provider or your cardiologist to see if you are a good fit. Then, the CPC team will call to schedule a visit. For patients who want extra support and clearer answers, the CPC Clinic can make heart care feel more manageable—one small step at a time.