Innovative partnership to transform cardiology care

BURLINGTON, Ont. – In an innovative partnership, Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. has joined forces with established cardiology clinics across Ontario to transform community care for cardiovascular patients through a cardiovascular optimization program, emphasizing accessibility and collaboration.

The Complex Optimization and Community Hub (COACH) takes a comprehensive approach partnering with key community-based cardiology clinics to expand and optimize services.

Through guideline-directed medical therapy and enhanced management – facilitated by Allied Healthcare Professionals – the initiative aims to improve patient health outcomes and access to care, support self-management, enhance transitions between community and hospital care, optimize patient flow within clinics, and reduce re-hospitalizations.

“At Boehringer Ingelheim Canada, we are dedicated to transforming the lives of patients. In co-creating this initiative, we have embarked on transformative public-private collaboration aimed at bridging gaps in care. Our combined goal is to improve the healthcare journey, aligning it seamlessly with the patients’ needs,” says Annie Beauchemin (pictured), head of Market Access, Boehringer Ingelheim Canada. “This initiative represents a significant step forward in patient care and signifies our combined commitment to comprehensive patient care, creating a web of support that embraces patients on their journey towards better health.”

This collaboration aligns with the objectives of Ontario Health, integrating hospital discharge processes and specialist referrals with the broader community healthcare system. The initiative has started to yield promising results at several site locations across Ontario. Patients have experienced enhanced care and outcomes and the program has shown a reduction in re-hospitalizations.

“The COACH project at Winchester Hospital enhanced the management of heart failure patients by improving the adherence to guidelines and updating the institutional heart failure order set,” stated Dr. Gazarin, chief research officer, Winchester District Memorial Hospital.

“This partnership has allowed the development of a robust initiative to optimize both acute and chronic heart failure across the full spectrum of this disease state. More than 1,500 patients have received cardiovascular care through this initiative to date, it has reduced the need for patients to go to ER for treatment and has resulted in significant reduction in waiting times for patients to be seen, optimized and monitored. It is through such public-private partnerships that a new paradigm can be developed to enhance the care of such vulnerable patients. We look forward to continuing this initiative with the support of Boehringer Ingelheim Canada and other likeminded industry partners,” said Dr. A Shekhar Pandey, cardiologist, Cambridge Cardiac Care Center.

These results exemplify the power of innovative partnerships and set the stage for a future where comprehensive support becomes the norm for cardiovascular patients.

“A study analyzing this program conducted between January 2019 and March 2023 – by the Corcare Quality and Education Platform – was presented at the 2023 American Heart Association Scientific Conference. The study demonstrates outcomes are improved in community organizations when shared guideline-directed medical therapy goal are strengthened by medical directives with nursing-based support. This pragmatic and low-cost intervention is relevant to the lifelong, longitudinal care of the larger community population with heart failure. Public policy planning should explore opportunities for similar pragmatic approaches that support long-term community-based collaborative systems,” said Dr. Joseph Ricci, cardiologist, Corcare.

About Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd.
Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that transform lives, today and for generations to come. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term, sustainable perspective. More than 53,000 employees serve over 130 markets in the two business units, Human Pharma and Animal Health. The Canadian headquarters of Boehringer Ingelheim was established in 1972 in Montreal, Quebec and is now located in Burlington, Ontario. Boehringer Ingelheim employs approximately 500 people across Canada. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/ca.

SOURCE: Boehringer Ingelheim Canada LTD.