OBJECTIVES: To gain firsthand knowledge of pharmacists' and patients' experiences with pharmacist-based management of adults at risk for cardiovascular events.,METHODS: Design: Qualitative descriptive - one on one telephone interviews. Setting: Community - Alberta. Population: Community pharmacists and patients. Data analysis: Multi-step process using conventional qualitative content analysis.,RESULTS: We completed 35 telephone interviews - 21 pharmacists and 14 patients, where we had 14 dyads (pharmacist and patient relationship). The majority of pharmacists were female (57%) between the ages of 36 - 45, and worked in an urban setting (57%) with 10 or less years of practice. Pharmacists reported a variety of factors that affected their ability to manage patients' cardiovascular risk. These included features of their workplace (i.e. work autonomy, resources and physical space); their personal outlook and perspective (i.e. expanded professional role and professional development); collaborative physician/pharmacist relationship; and patient uptake. Common themes identified by patients included their trust of the pharmacist, ease of access to pharmacist services and presumed healthcare cost.,CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the provider and patient perspectives are key to maximizing the impact and sustainability of a pharmacy-based program to manage patients at high cardiovascular risk. Generally, patients were pleased with the clinical services provided by the pharmacist and pharmacists embraced the expanded clinical role.