title: The contribution of a pharmacy admissions service to patient care.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of two specialised admissions pharmacists on an acute medical admissions ward. For a one-week period, contributions made to the medical post-take ward round (PTWR), the number of drug histories taken and interventions made as a result, and the availability of medication needed on discharge were documented. An average of 1.1 contributions per patient were made on the PTWR; a large proportion of these concerned therapeutic choice. Pharmacists also intervened to stop medication due to adverse drug reactions in 12% (n=10) of contributions. Fifty-two drug histories were checked by a pharmacist, resulting in 61 interventions (1.1 interventions per patient). The majority of interventions resulted from the unintentional omission of a regular medication (65%, n=39). Only 24% (n=29) of items needed on discharge had to be dispensed in pharmacy and 33% (n=41) were available as patients' own drugs.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. gemma.bracey@imperial.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bracey
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Bryony Dean
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jacklin
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gaskin
mesh_terms: D006757:Hospital Units; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D010343:Patient Admission; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010595:Pharmacists; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom