Improved drug management for surgical inpatients through the presence of a clinical pharmacist at the preoperative clinic

Author(s)

Françoise LONGTON, Olivia Polinard, Linda Mattar, Anna Pauels, Mireille Bourton, Michel Mattens

Why was it done?

A thorough medication history at admission reduces medication errors. The presence of a clinical pharmacist in the preoperative clinic increases the number of inpatients who receive a standardized medication history by a pharmacist.

On admission, the adaptation of home medications to the hospital formulary can also be a source of error or delay. The fact that the patient is seen by a pharmacist prior to hospitalization makes it possible to anticipate drug substitutions and possible orders for non-formulary drugs.

Moreover, surgeons do not always have the possibility to prescribe medications taken at home upon admission, which results in a delayed availability of the medication. Thanks to this multidisciplinary project the continuity of treatment is assured.

What was done?

During the preoperative consultation, a pharmacist takes a medication history and enters it into the computerized medical record, making it available for the anaesthetist.

Upon admission of the patient, the continuity of the medication is ensured by the pharmacy.

Indeed, during the admission, the nurse follows a procedure that informs the pharmacy of any medication changes since the preoperative consultation. Afterwards, the pharmacy encodes the treatment into the computerized intra-hospital prescription and delivers it to the department.

Before any drug administration, this treatment is signed by the doctor responsible for the patient.

How was it done?

Preoperative consultations had to be structured so that each patient was first seen by the pharmacist, second by a nurse and third by the anaesthetist.

Thus, the main obstacle was organizational and it was overcome through the centralized management of preoperative clinic appointments.

What has been achieved?

In 2020, 54% of patients admitted for surgery (elective or emergency surgeries) were seen in the preoperative clinic.

What next?

This is an example of good practice as it ensures a standardized medication history and admission management.