Published by Computachem Services

P.O Box 297.
Alstonville. 2477
NSW Australia

Phone:
61 2 66285138

Working in a Quality Use of Medicine mode provides many challenges and opportunities to look 'outside the square'.
The Hospital/community integration projects the Division is involved in does just this. In medication matters there are huge obstacles to think around. My involvement with some of Melbourne's major hospitals on Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) in discharge planning and pulling together the available community and hospital resources to address the problem of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) that lead to readmission for many patients is both stimulating and satisfying professionally.

Since the introduction of the Home Medication Review option the path towards a solution is becoming clearer.
There are still many challenges to overcome but with the goodwill of all concerned from hospital discharge professionals, general practitioners and community pharmacists a system is emerging that could well address some of the pain and suffering and waste of precious community resources that still plague the medical system.
Much of the solution devolves on good communication also and timely responses. Appreciation of the importance each professional plays in averting Adverse Drug Reactions and having resources in place to effect a timely response will also be vital.
I encourage as many pharmacies as possible to ensure they have a pharmacist accredited to conduct Home Medication Reviews (HMRs)in place.
It is vital that precious time is not lost in trying to access a pharmacist able to respond to a GP request, in turn acting on a request from the discharging hospital, to attend to an "at risk" patient as soon as possible after coming home.
From my experience discussing HMRs with GPs one of the complaints of the system I hear is the time taken from referral to the pharmacist visit to the patient.
This has on occasions taken weeks.
Often this is not important in the day to day course of a Care Plan but sometimes when there may be a medication problem time is critical.
With a QUM preventative measure such as a recommendation after discharge then time to respond will be of the utmost importance.
The integration of HMR into daily practice in most pharmacies will take some change in management and appreciation of the needs of the patient beyond a supply function.
Commensurately it will enhance the professional satisfaction that is so sadly missing from many pharmacists' lives in a paced up supply function only.
Perhaps also it may well bring back into the profession those for whom the lack of satisfaction and frustration with the system has turned off and take some of the pressure off the rest struggling with work force issues?
The bottom line is that Australians will benefit from resources in the community from a uniquely innovative system.