Pharmacy Daily | Let’s improve the standard

ADVANCED Pharmacy Australia (AdPHa) has released a new Pharmacy Standard to support patients from harm arising from transitions of care.

According to Katie Phillips, Chair of Standard of Practice Working Group, patients who have been offered safe transition care are less likely to be readmitted to hospital and enjoy better outcomes.

"Improving medication safety during transitions of care is everyone's responsibility, and requires commitment and collaboration across all levels of the acute and primary care sectors," Phillips noted.

"Pharmacy services specialising in transitions of care are perfectly placed to lead the way, and transitions of care stewardship is now more than just a pipedream.

"These Standards have been decades in the making and a testament to all those who have pioneered in this space.

The new standard also highlights the important contributions of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and assistants to ensure quality care for Australians moving between healthcare providers.

Medication-related adverse events occur in approximately 20% of patients after discharge, two-thirds of which are preventable, said AdPha President Tom Simpson.

However, pharmacist-led interventions have been shown to lead to a significant decrease in hospital and emergency department visits.

"Pharmacy teams are integral to supporting transitions of care episodes, which often involve complex care arrangements," Simpson added.

"They facilitate continuity of care & [help] medicine management."