Clinical pharmacists are becoming an increasingly prominent element of many primary care teams. Their role in medication management can reduce prescription errors and generally improve the safety and wellbeing of patients, whilst leaving GPs free to focus on other important aspects of care that cannot be delegated.
What is a clinical pharmacist?
A pharmacist is a health professional who specialises in medication, such as appropriate dosage, common side effects and interactions with other drugs. Clinical pharmacists are generally based in a clinical setting, such as a hospital or GP surgery, where they may work with doctors, nurses and other members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams to provide the most comprehensive and effective service to patients.
How do clinical pharmacists improve patient safety?
Medication management, especially for patients with multiple chronic conditions, can be complex, but it is also essential for managing symptoms and ensuring individuals are able to live a life as close to normal as possible. This requires them to have the most appropriate dose for side effects to be mitigated and for any potential interactions with other medications to be considered. Sometimes, merely ensuring that patients remain compliant with their recommended medication can be difficult. Prescription errors can be harmful, potentially even deadly for patients with serious health problems, as well as being costly for medical practices.
It is often difficult to obtain a GP appointment, and GPs do not always have time to give every patient the attention they need. Clinical pharmacists can carry out regular and comprehensive medication reviews to identify any concerns quickly and to adjust as necessary. They can also counsel patients and encourage them to follow their prescriptions in situations where they may not be fully engaged with their own care. Having a dedicated professional just for navigating issues around medication management ensures that prescriptions can be optimised to each patient’s individual situation and that there is a reduced likelihood of error or non-compliance, whilst doctors can be more thorough in other areas of their practice.
What impact do clinical pharmacists have on primary care as a whole?
The presence of clinical pharmacists as part of a primary care team ensures there is an individual specifically responsible for medication management. This means that GPs do not need to spend as much time helping patients optimise their prescription. Instead, they can focus on aspects of primary care that can only be carried out by a doctor, such as diagnosis. This enables the surgery to run more effectively, to provide more appointments, and to serve the needs of more patients. This increased efficiency may also be seen in reduced financial costs as less is wasted on prescription errors.
Primary care is safer and more effective when it can meet the diverse needs of all its patients, which may mean different professionals specialising in different areas of care. Clinical pharmacists are one key aspect of this, improving medication management to deliver better patient outcomes whilst ensuring that the practice as a whole is run more efficiently.
What services does Clinical Rx provide?
In general, clinical pharmacists exist to help with the management of medication. They ensure patients receive the correct prescription, that it works as intended, that potential side effects are monitored, that their dosage is adjusted as needed, and that reviews are carried out as necessary. This is of particular use for those with chronic conditions who require long term management, and who are particularly reliant on the ongoing support of their GP practice.
Utilisation of clinical pharmacists allows the practice as a whole to work more efficiently, ensuring doctors can focus on more complex diagnoses and treatments, and it improves the patient experience by providing them with quicker and more tailored care. Increased efficiency in time, organisation and costs ensures ARRS funding is put to good use, to the benefit of a practice or entire PCN.
There are several benefits to utilising the services of Clinical Rx, in particular, which works as a remote clinical pharmacist provider supporting a range of PCNs and practices as needed on a flexible basis. As well as streamlining prescription management and reviews, relieving pressure on GPs, and improving patient care, it can clear the backlog and help meet QOF targets. Meeting QOF targets, in particular, allows you to be rewarded for good performance, increasing your practice income. This makes ARRS funding a profitable investment as well as one that is effective in terms of patient outcomes.
It can be a difficult decision to decide how best to use ARRS funding, but Clinical Rx can provide specific benefits for patients and doctors both in terms of efficiency and cost effectiveness. This leads to better outcomes for everyone in the PCN or practice, and for the PCN or practice itself.
For improved outcomes, we believe that communication is vital between the different professions. At Clinical Rx®, we welcome feedback and reviews, so we can continue to offer the best possible service. By working together, the team can better address the complex needs of patients, improve outcomes, and enhance the overall patient experience. Ultimately, the goal is to provide high-quality care in a collaborative and patient-centred approach.Â
Our Pharmacists are not limited to medication management only. We understand that every GP Practice has different needs at times. Whether it be assistance with protocols, quality improvement work or additional work for CQC inspections – we can help, contact us for more information.Â
References: 1. Duncan, P. et al. (2020) ‘Barriers and enablers to collaborative working between GPS and Pharmacists: A qualitative interview study’, British Journal of General Practice, 70(692). doi:10.3399/bjgp20x708197.
