New-look National Prescribing Service Pharmacy Review Improves Health By Building Rapport, Australia

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 04 Jun 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Pharmacists say relationships with patients are extended and supported by the National Prescribing Service Limited's (NPS) new-look Pharmacy Practice Review counselling and action resource and this is yielding better results for patients.

Designed to better support pharmacist-patient counselling and interaction, the new-look materials include tear-off pads with information to give to patients, an action checklist for pharmacists to work through with individual patients and the latest clinical information about best practice.

Launched in 2001 as the Pharmacy Practice Audit and now called the Pharmacy Practice Review, it retains the self-audit component for pharmacy professionals to help pharmacists keep up with best practices for specific conditions. Participants receive a feedback report that includes individual results, aggregated results of the total participating pharmacist group and provides expert commentary on the aggregate results.

Sydney-based pharmacist Irene McMartin said the new approach has prompted her to think about the way she counsels patients.

"The focus is on me. It gets me to reflect on how well I did and how I can improve my service and level of care. It reminds me to ask people about their lifestyles," Ms McMartin said.

"The review kit has been well received. Pharmacists say they are using the materials to form closer relationships with their patients, which is yielding positive results," NPS Acting CEO, Karen Kaye said.

South Australian-based pharmacist Thelma Tantalos, says the reviews she has done have helped develop her communication skills and encourage more meaningful interactions with her patients.

"I would definitely recommend them to other pharmacists. They help us to optimise our counselling and achieve the best results for each of our customers. The review is now easier to follow and easier to apply with each patient," she said.

David North, a New South Wales-based pharmacist who is completing the current Pharmacy Practice Review 'Enhancing patient care in type 2 diabetes', said it helps him establish priorities when counselling patients and reminds him to also ask lifestyle questions.

"The presentation is much easier; it is more in-depth, it sets out points to encourage adherence to medication and it encourages us [pharmacists] to discuss lifestyle matters such as exercise," Mr North said. "For instance, if they're playing golf, we ask them, how's your golf going? The review takes a more holistic approach and there have been flow-on effects. Our patients are now volunteering information so we're receiving information about other aspects of their health, such as if they have a weight problem or if they smoke."

The review package is a part of NPS's broader vision to encourage quality use of medicines by enabling pharmacists and health professionals to deliver best-practice management care. The review uses best practice guidelines to help pharmacists and staff review current practice, consider introducing changes, review and reflect on these changes, and to monitor their progress.

NPS resources also help pharmacists keep up to date and build core competencies that contribute to their continuing professional development.

To take part in the new Pharmacy Practice Review go to http://www.nps.org.au/healthpro, email info@nps.org.au or call 02 8217 8700. When you have completed the activity, return your forms to NPS by 25 July 2008 to receive feedback in December 2008, or by 24 October 2008 to receive feedback in February 2009.

National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

National Prescribing Service Limited