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The following are some key questions that pharmacists need to ask themselves when preparing a medication prescription: How do I check for errors? How do I make sure that I’m not doubling up? How do I ensure that my patient receives the right amount of medication? Do I follow the proper route for administration? Do I adequately educate my patient? The answer to these questions is crucial for the overall success of a pharmacy.
Health outcomes
Pharmacists’ contributions to patient health outcomes have traditionally focused on dispensing medications. However, their roles have expanded as medicine therapy has become more complex. For example, many patients receive care at home or in the community. By providing the highest level of care, pharmacists play a key role in the safety and effectiveness of the medication. And they can help patients stay on track with their medications while at the same time helping them manage their chronic conditions.
Medication errors affect approximately 7 million patients each year. Even though most mistakes are not clinically significant, their numbers remain high. In addition, estimates of the costs and consequences of these errors are uncertain because of the lack of data and the low-quality of data available. Regardless of the magnitude of the errors, data linking errors to patient outcomes is essential for improving our understanding of this issue. For this reason, we need more data from plprx.com/florida/ on medication safety.
Costs
Once considered a minor expenditure, prescription drugs have come under scrutiny for their increasing costs. Since 1982, prescription drug expenditures have risen at the fastest rate of any sector within the healthcare industry. According to researchers at the University of North Carolina, nearly half of the increases have resulted from industry-specific price inflation, while the remaining portion has been due to volume increases due to increased utilization. In addition, changes in the population have also increased the price of prescription drugs.
These changes are aimed at helping prevent senior citizens from using the mail-order system to fill their prescriptions. Ultimately, a senior should be able to obtain their prescriptions at a community pharmacy of their choice. A community pharmacy should be provided adequate compensation for dispensing medication to seniors, including additional reimbursement for medication therapy management services. However, these changes can only work if the government and healthcare providers are willing to provide adequate compensation for their services.
Product inventory
Proper product inventory management is crucial for the success of any pharmacy. It requires practice, training, and patience to keep track of inventory levels. Pharmacy staff must apply best practices when managing inventory, such as expired products and minimizing on-hand quantities. Product inventory can also be improved by ensuring that pharmacy techs are well-trained and motivated. Such a person will have an impact on the success of the pharmacy.
Product inventory is essential when dispensing medication, as it keeps you aware of any potential stock shortages or expiry dates. Proper inventory management also reduces the risk of compliance violations and improves your pharmacy’s standing with regulatory agencies. Further, you can avoid stock-outs and misplaced medical equipment with proper visibility. For this reason, inventory management should be an essential part of a pharmacy’s workflow.
Patient counseling
Pharmacists are required to provide patient counseling to fill a prescription and during the reauthorization of medication therapy. Pharmacists should inform patients of their availability and the benefits of counseling when they ask them questions or ask them to sign a waiver. They should also provide patients with a copy of the ASHP guidelines so that they can review them and make any necessary changes. A high proportion of pharmacists do not have a framework for assessing the effectiveness of their counseling activities.
Pharmacists should assess the patient’s cognitive abilities, learning style, and sensory status before providing medication counseling. Some patients learn better through oral instructions, others may prefer visual aids, and some patients need to directly touch medications and administration devices. Others may have limited visual acuity to read labels or have difficulty opening child-resistant containers. Pharmacists should ask patients how they have been using their medications.
Pharmacists can improve patient outcomes by providing patient counseling. By explaining how to use medication and ensuring compliance with prescribed regimens, pharmacists can motivate patients to take an active role in their health care. Pharmacists should take note of the desired output from their patients and remind them to notify their physician or pharmacist if they have any questions. Pharmacist counseling aims to improve patient outcomes and increase patient satisfaction.
