THIS week's contributor is Gerard Stevens, Managing Director, Webstercare - The power of data: Pharmacists are the gatekeepers to many of the solutions being sought by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
These solutions are hidden within the data we keep and can significantly improve clinical outcomes in either facility or community settings.
Pharmacy-held medication data offers the most accurate and up-to-date analysis of what medications people actually take. It's why the government is increasingly turning to pharmacies for this data as the 'source of truth' in projects such as the Pharmacist Shared Medicines List and electronic prescribing.
By itself, as bits of information, data can seem like a wash of meaningless detritus. But organised properly, applying technology and predictive analysis tools, we can transform seemingly chaotic data into life-saving and patient-empowering knowledge.
For instance, can you summarise, graph and detail all psychotropic medications taken by residents at any point in time, and categorise by resident or drug class? Do you identify those who are at risk of serious injury from falling due to the anticholinergic load of their medication regimen?
Minimising the risk of medication mismanagement or misadventure has become a major national priority. Analysis of pharmacy data offers many solutions.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 12 Oct 20
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