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Novel specialist uveitis pharmacist role in the uveitis multidisciplinary team (MDT) and evaluation of new dedicated patient email helpline

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European Statement

Clinical Pharmacy Services

Author(s)

Ann-Marie Goacher

Why was it done?

To add expert pharmacy skills to the uveitis MDT. Provide pharmacist led improved education, compliance, monitoring, follow up and access via helpline for uveitis patients on immunosuppression.

What was done?

Expansion of the uveitis (MDT) service to include a specialist pharmacist

How was it done?

COVID allowed us to pilot an innovative service enhancing uveitis patient care. An MDT was established consisting of a specialist consultant, two specialist doctors, optometrist and expert pharmacist in ophthalmology (EPO). The EPO supports weekly MDT sessions through establishing a patient helpline, standardised recorded counselling and on-going follow up of pharmaceutical needs of new and established patients. The main challenge was to obtain funding to maintain this service post COVID. Clinic space remains a challenge due to the limits imposed by the availability of rooms.

What has been achieved?

This innovative pharmacy service provides a blueprint for other specialities to incorporate expert pharmacy skills into the direct care of outpatients. Integration of the EPO into the uveitis MDT benefits clinicians by redirecting prescribing workload, reducing patient enquiries, improvements in clinic flow by moving patient counselling to the EPO and patient safety through instant access to pharmaceutical specialist knowledge. Initial informal MDT feedback has been positive.
Patients profit from access to EPO via the patient helpline. Analysis of 900 emails received over a 2-year period showed the main reasons patients contacted us were for enquires related to blood tests, medication supply, appointments, side effects, worsening symptoms and confirming instructions regarding medication. Feedback from a patient satisfaction survey overall was positive. Patients were asked to rate the service between 1 (poor) and 5 (excellent), with 31 patients responding. The results show access to the team was rated 4.6/5, satisfaction with the speed of the response was 4.29/5 and the quality of response was rated 4.48/5.

What next?

Improved IT databases is something for review, the main barrier being funding. This would make recording and auditing of patient interactions and data more robust. In the future I would like to see national guidance that recommends pharmacists as part of the uveitis MDT as standard.

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