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SETTING UP A LOCAL COOPERATION PROTOCOL TO ENABLE PHARMACISTS TO RENEW AND ADAPT PRESCRIPTIONS: FIRST RESULTS OF AN EXPERIMENT IN A PERIPHERAL HOSPITAL CENTRE

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European Statement

Clinical Pharmacy Services

Author(s)

S Hurel, H Benoist, N Guesdon, S Niemczyk, A-P Gaumon, A Perdriel, E Labbe
Hospital Center of Falaise, Falaise, FRANCE
sylvelie.hurel@orange.fr

Why was it done?

Implementation of a local cooperation protocol (LCP) to enable pharmacists to renew and adapt prescriptions within the hospital.

What was done?

In France, a decree published in February 2023 allows pharmacists working in hospital pharmacies to renew and adapt therapies (RAT) in a concerted manner (RATC) or directly (RATD). Previously, pharmacists could not intervene directly in prescriptions, but could only recommend changes to the prescriber, which were often time-consuming and never made. The aim of setting up this protocol was to improve patient care and optimise pharmacist and medical time.

How was it done?

The LCP was implemented on 8 July 2024 in a 600-bed hospital on three long-term geriatric test units (100 beds) following validation by the hospital medical committee in June 2024. A prospective study was carried out over three months on seven indicators: number of patients included, RATCs, RATDs, physician acceptance rates, adverse event (AE) and serious AE rates, and pharmacist and physician satisfaction rates. The indicators were collected in real time using a dynamic cross-tabulated Excel table, and satisfaction was assessed using a survey comprising five multiple-choice questions.

What has been achieved?

The number of patients included over the three months implementation period was 58. A total of 153 RATs were performed, including 53.6% (n=82) RATDs and 46.4% (n=71) RATCs. The main interventions concerned drugs prescribed but not referenced in hospital (n=38), inappropriate treatment durations (n=23) and supra-therapeutic dosages (n=18). The acceptance rate by doctors was 100% (n=153). There were no AEs or serious AEs reported. The satisfaction rate of doctors (n=3) and pharmacists (n=2) showed an overall satisfaction rate of 100% (n=5).

What next?

This three-month feedback showed that healthcare professionals were completely satisfied with the service provided by this LCP and the indicators have proved that this protocol can be applied safely. Thanks to this results, the LCP will therefore be continued in the three test units before being rolled out to other departments. Implementing this LCP in departments such as surgery will make it possible to secure prescriptions in a partnership between doctors and pharmacists.

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