Slick scripts: impact on patient flow targets of pharmacists preparing discharge prescriptions in a hospital with an electronic prescribing system

Abstract

Pharmacist collaboration with doctors to prepare discharge prescriptions did not impact upon ED access targets, but resulted in patients being discharged earlier.

Impact of pharmacists assisting with prescribing and undertaking medication review on oxycodone prescribing and supply for patients discharged from surgical wards

“…In the hospital setting, pharmacist involvement in discharge prescribing has been shown to improve efficiency and patient safety compared to traditional doctor prescribing. [14][15][16][17] For example, it has been shown to reduce the number of prescription amendments needed to correct errors or discrepancies and optimize therapy after the prescription has been prepared. It also reduces time spent by pharmacists and doctors correcting prescriptions, which ultimately results in fewer delays in discharging the patient and greater overall satisfaction with this collaborative approach.…”

“…This study was a retrospective analysis of data from a previously published pre-and post-intervention study. 14 The study was conducted on two acute surgical wards (total capacity 64 beds), over two-eightweek periods, at a major teaching hospital in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Each surgical unit employed approximately two to four junior doctors (interns/residents).…”

Impact of proactive pharmacist‐assisted warfarin management using an electronic medication management system in Australian hospitalised patients

“…Several international studies have demonstrated that pharmacists can impact process‐related outcomes for inpatient warfarin management, although evidence for clinical outcomes such as reduced bleeding and thromboembolic complications remains limited . A barrier to Australian hospital pharmacists becoming more actively involved in warfarin management is that they are not currently able to prescribe, although pharmacists charting doses in partnership with prescribers is acceptable …”

“…Several recent Australian studies have demonstrated partnered pharmacist charting of medicines to be safe and effective in reducing medication‐related errors in areas such as orthopaedics, the emergency department and general medicine . Partnered pharmacist anticoagulant prescribing in an Australian ambulatory care Hospital In The Home (HITH) program, reduced time to reach therapeutic INR and facilitated earlier discharge back to community care …”

“…It has been acknowledged that implementation of eMMS results in significant changes to pharmacist workflow, but this also presents medical staff and pharmacists with opportunities for collaborative models of medication prescribing and charting . In contrast to paper‐based charts, these systems allow for detailed levels of transparency and for staff to review charts remotely.…”