Interprofessional Care Coordination: Crossroads Between the Heart and Mind

There is a bidirectional relationship between depression and cardiovascular disorders, with an increased risk for mortality. There is no clear consensus on the best depression screening tool or monitoring plan in patients with cardiovascular disease, but a practical approach and flexible care management is needed to improve both mental health and cardiovascular outcomes. This session will provide compelling rationale for integrating mental health and cardiovascular care, outlining the distinct roles of each team member in managing patients with comorbid depression and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, it will cover best practices for developing effective mental health screening and treatment plans, ensuring comprehensive care for this complex patient population.

Target Audience

If you are a pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or other health care professional involved in the comprehensive medication management of individuals living with mental health and/or substance use disorders, we invite you to participate in this online course.

Course Requirements

To receive ACPE credit for this session, you must:

  • Register for this course.
  • Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
  • Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
  • Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.

Faculty Information

David Parra, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, FAHA
View biographical information

David Parra, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, FAHA
VISN 8 PBM Clinical Pharmacy Program Manager in Cardiology & Anticoagulation
Veterans Health Administration

Dr. Parra received an undergraduate degree from Marquette University, and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota where he subsequently completed a two-year postdoctoral residency and fellowship in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy. Dr. Parra is a Fellow of the American Heart Association and American College of Clinical Pharmacy. He currently is the Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 PBM Clinical Pharmacy Program Manager and Academic Detailer in Cardiology and Anticoagulation and has a practice site at the West Palm Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center as a Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner in the Department of Cardiology. He is also a clinical associate professor within the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy.
 
Dr. Parra has presented research findings at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, European Society of Cardiology Congress, American Society of Hypertension, and other medical and pharmacy scientific forums. Dr. Parra served as co-chair of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Sessions Pharmacology Sessions from 2010-2014, faculty of the ACC Core Curriculum 2016-2019, and a member of the American Heart Association’s Council on Clinical Cardiology Clinical Pharmacology Committee from 2017-2021. Dr. Parra assisted in the design and implementation of a pharmacist managed metabolic syndrome clinic in a mental health setting at his practice site. In addition, Dr. Parra has a significant interest in personalizing anti-hypertensive therapy utilizing impedance cardiography, biomarkers, and 24hr ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. He has several publications and presentations on the topic as well as being co-developer of an app (PRA and HTN) for smartphones to assist with this.

Learning Objectives

  1. Provide rationale for implementation of integrated mental health and cardiology care.
  2. Describe the role of each member of the interprofessional care team in treating patients with comorbid depression and cardiovascular disease.
  3. Recommend a mental health screening and/or treatment plan for patients with depression and comorbid cardiovascular disease.

Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures

Activity Dates: 04/28/2025 - 04/28/2028
ACPE Contact Hours: 1
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-25-008-H01-P (Application)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for ANCC Certification Renewal and AANPCB advanced practice provider content. For specific questions related to your organization's acceptance of ACPE continuing education units, please contact your organization directly.

ACPEThe American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

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Off-Label Use: This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA (see faculty information). The opinions expressed in the educational activity do not necessarily represent the views of AAPP and any educational partners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

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It is the policy of AAPP to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in continuing education activities. Those involved in the development of this continuing education activity have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of accreditation of this continuing education activity. Information regarding drugs (e.g., their administration, dosages, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, special warnings, and precautions) and drug delivery systems is subject to change, however, and the reader is advised to check the manufacturer’s package insert for information concerning recommended dosage and potential problems or cautions prior to dispensing or administering the drug or using the drug delivery systems.

Fair balance is achieved through ongoing and thorough review of all materials produced by faculty, and all educational and advertising materials produced by supporting organizations, prior to educational offerings. Approval of credit for this continuing education activity does not imply endorsement by AAPP for any product or manufacturer identified.