Lim R, Bilton R, Dorj G, Bereznicki L, Rowett D, Ho JN, Freeman A, Roughead EE. Pharmacists as patient advocates: A series of case studies illustrating the impacts of a regular pharmacist service in residential aged care (nursing homes).
EXPLORATORY RESEARCH IN CLINICAL AND SOCIAL PHARMACY 2023;
10:100268. [PMID:
37151371 PMCID:
PMC10160770 DOI:
10.1016/j.rcsop.2023.100268]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Medicine-related problems are common in older people living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). Recognising the significant medicine-related problems, the Australian government has announced a $345 million funding package to employ on-site pharmacists in RACFs starting in 2023. The new on-site pharmacists are to provide a range of clinical services to reduce medicine-related adverse events, promote quality use of medicines, and improve clinical governance and education. Underpinning these services, the authors argue that pharmacists play the critical role as resident advocates.
Objective
This study aims to demonstrate how pharmacists can enhance their advocacy responsibility within and beyond the clinical environment to not only reduce medicine-related adverse events but also improve residents' overall health and quality of life.
Methods
This study uses a case series methodology to demonstrate pharmacists' diverse roles in advocating for residents and their families. The case studies were based on participants enrolled in the Reducing Medicine-Induced Deterioration and Adverse Reactions (ReMInDAR) trial, a randomised controlled trial testing the effects of a regular pharmacist service across the Australian RACFs.
Results
Pharmacists' advocacy ranged from persistence in follow-up with a resident's general practitioner (GP) to ensure the GP was aware that a patient was experiencing bleeding and bruising while on an anticoagulant, to advocating for a new bed for a resident with peripheral oedema who had been sleeping in his chair due to fear of falling out of his current bed.
Conclusions
Our trial focussed on pharmacists serving as the residents' advocate to improve their overall health and quality of life, rather than just addressing a list of medicine-related problems. The pharmacist model used in the ReMInDAR trial supports pharmacists to work to their full scope of practice, helps guide the Australian government's new on-site pharmacist program, and serves as an exemplar pharmacist in aged care model internationally.
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