Statement 4.8

“Clinical pharmacy services should continuously evolve to optimise patients’ outcomes.”

What does it mean for patients? Patients are aware that hospital pharmacists during their clinical activities should be consulted and may intervene before, during and after treatment.

What does it mean for healthcare professionals? Errors can occur during prescription and administration of medicines, as highlighted in scientific literature. Healthcare professionals should employ the hospital pharmacists’ clinical pharmacy skills in high-risk situations where pharmaceutical care is required (such as management of anticoagulation therapy, antimicrobial therapy, and therapeutic drug monitoring). Hospital pharmacists can contribute to the appropriate use of medicines at all stages, starting with the perceived need for a particular medicine for prescribing and ending with the assessment and monitoring of its efficacy and tolerability for patients after administration.

What does it mean for Hospital Pharmacists? Hospital pharmacists should manage medication therapy for high risk patients. Hospital pharmacists should have an overview of all medication therapies for patients under their care and record pharmaceutical interventions with the aim to improve quality and safety of all medication use.

Statement 4.7

“Hospital pharmacists should inform, educate and advise patients, carers and other health care professionals when medicines are used outside of their marketing authorisation” 

What does it mean for patients? Medicines are thoroughly tested and regulated before prescribed and given to patients. There may be times they are used in a way for which they are not approved, under the supervision of the doctor.

Any use of these medicines in this way should be discussed with the hospital pharmacist before prescription and/or administration

What does it mean for healthcare professionals? Medicines should be used under the conditions of the marketing authorisation for which they are approved. For certain patient groups or indications there may be a rational reason to use a medicine outside of its marketing authorisation (off label use). This decision should be taken in consultation with the pharmacy department who will advise regarding the indications/patient group for which a medicine is licensed for and if it is appropriate to be used in another way for a specific patient/patient group.

What does it mean for Hospital Pharmacists? Pharmacy departments should proactively inform other healthcare professionals of the approved indications and conditions for approved medicines. Use outside of the marketing authorisation may be justified if there is sufficient evidence to support its use in that way. This decision must be done in collaboration with hospital pharmacists because responsibility and liability may be shared between all staff involved in the process, and they need to be aware of this.

Statement 4.6

“Hospital pharmacists, as an integral part of all patient care teams, should ensure that patients and carers are offered information about their clinical management options, and especially about the use of their medicines, in terms they can understand.”

What does it mean for patients? Inappropriate handling of medicines can reduce and even eliminate the effect of medicines. Patients (or their caregivers) can rely on hospital pharmacists to provide information about their medicines, so that they can manage their medication independently, ensuring optimal outcomes and to prevent re- admission. Hospital pharmacists have the responsibility, competencies and the interest to provide this advice.

What does it mean for healthcare professionals? Healthcare professionals can rely on hospital pharmacists to provide adequate information (written instructions and verbal counselling) to patients regarding their medication. If appropriate, additional education regarding medication use can be provided. This is so that the patients can manage their medication independently or with the assistance of a caregiver to ensure optimal outcomes.

What does it mean for Hospital Pharmacists? Hospital pharmacists should facilitate the provision of instructions, education and counselling to patients and/or their caregivers when deemed appropriate.

The Hospital Universitario Clinico San Carlos is SILCC Host providing training on this Statement. Please learn more about the SILCC programme here.

Statement 4.5

“Hospital pharmacists should promote seamless care by contributing to transfer of information about medicines whenever patients move between and within healthcare settings.” 

What does it mean for patients? In the interest of patient safety the patients’ health records should be complete, exhaustive and include all contributions provided by all health care professionals involved in their care, including interventions made by hospital pharmacists.

What does it mean for healthcare professionals? Healthcare professionals can expect hospital pharmacists to contribute to patients ́ health records ensuring they are complete, exhaustive and accurate. This includes pharmaceutical advice, recommendations and all interventions conducted by the pharmacy team. The documentation is also necessary to support any therapeutic decision by doctors.

What does it mean for Hospital Pharmacists? Hospital pharmacists are accountable for their practice, including pharmaceutical advice, validation and any recommendation. All interventions should be documented in the patients’ health records for reasons of traceability, necessity, and patient safety. Hospital pharmacists should contribute in the definition of procedures and a classification system of such records.

The  Sindelfingen­Boeblingen Medical Center is SILCC Host providing training on this Statement. Please learn more about the SILCC programme here.

Statement 4.4

“All the medicines used by patients should be entered on the patient’s medical record and reconciled by the hospital pharmacist on admission. Hospital pharmacists should assess the appropriateness of all patients’ medicines, including herbal and dietary supplements.” 

What does it mean for patients? Patients can rely on hospital pharmacists as they contribute to reducing the risk of medication errors. Hospital pharmacists also contribute to the appropriate use of medicines to reach the optimal patient outcomes by monitoring all patients receiving treatment

What does it mean for healthcare professionals? Healthcare professionals can rely on hospital pharmacists to contribute to reduce the risk of medication errors. They also contribute to the appropriate use of medicines by providing advice regarding the medication therapy as well as monitoring the patients

What does it mean for Hospital Pharmacists? Hospital Pharmacists should systematically review and validate all prescriptions prior to dispensing and administration of medication
Hospital Pharmacists should contribute in the definition of procedures for correct prescription and administration of medicines.
Hospital pharmacists should continue to monitor all patients who receive medicines to ensure appropriate medication use and optimal outcomes.

The  Sindelfingen­Boeblingen Medical Center is SILCC Host providing training on this Statement. Please learn more about the SILCC programme here.

Statement 4.3

“Hospital pharmacists should have access to the patients’ health record. Their clinical interventions should be documented in the patients’ health record and analysed to inform quality improvement interventions.”

What does it mean for patients? In the interest of patient safety the patients’ health records should be complete, exhaustive and include all contributions provided by all health care professionals involved in their care, including interventions made by hospital pharmacists.

What does it mean for healthcare professionals? Healthcare professionals can expect hospital pharmacists to contribute to patients ́ health records ensuring they are complete, exhaustive and accurate. This includes pharmaceutical advice, recommendations and all interventions conducted by the pharmacy team. The documentation is also necessary to support any therapeutic decision by doctors.

What does it mean for Hospital Pharmacists? Hospital pharmacists are accountable for their practice, including pharmaceutical advice, validation and any recommendation. All interventions should be documented in the patients’ health records for reasons of traceability, necessity, and patient safety. Hospital pharmacists should contribute in the definition of procedures and a classification system of such records.

The Uppsalla University Hospital is SILCC Host providing training on this Statement. Please learn more about the SILCC programme here.

The Hospital Gregorio Marañon is SILCC Host providing training on this Statement. Please learn more about the SILCC programme here.

Statement 4.2

“All prescriptions should be reviewed and validated as soon as possible by a hospital pharmacist. Whenever the clinical situation allows, this review should take place prior to the supply and administration of medicines.”

What does it mean for patients? Patients can rely on hospital pharmacists as they contribute to reducing the risk of medication errors. Hospital pharmacists also contribute to the appropriate use of medicines to reach the optimal patient outcomes by monitoring all patients receiving treatment

What does it mean for healthcare professionals? Healthcare professionals can rely on hospital pharmacists to contribute to reduce the risk of medication errors. They also contribute to the appropriate use of medicines by providing advice regarding the medication therapy as well as monitoring the patients

What does it mean for Hospital Pharmacists? Hospital Pharmacists should systematically review and validate all prescriptions prior to dispensing and administration of medication
Hospital Pharmacists should contribute in the definition of procedures for correct prescription and administration of medicines.
Hospital pharmacists should continue to monitor all patients who receive medicines to ensure appropriate medication use and optimal outcomes.

The Tyne and Wear NHS Foundations Trust Hospital is SILCC Host providing training on this Statement. Please learn more about the SILCC programme here.

Statement 4.1

“Hospital pharmacists should be involved in all patient care settings to prospectively influence collaborative, multidisciplinary therapeutic decision-making; they should play a full part in decision making including advising, implementing and monitoring medication changes in full partnership with patients, carers and other health care professionals.”

What does it mean for patients? Collaborative care is recognised to provide the best outcomes for patients.
Therapeutic decision-making is an interdisciplinary activity where all healthcare professionals should be involved. Patients should be aware that Hospital pharmacists contribute to the safe and effective use of medication. Full access to all clinical data of patients allows Hospital pharmacists to fulfil their role.

What does it mean for healthcare professionals? Collaborative care is recognised to provide the best outcomes for patients. Therapeutic decision-making is an interdisciplinary activity where all healthcare professionals should be involved. Healthcare professionals can rely on Hospital pharmacists to contribute to safe, efficacious and cost- effective use of medication. Full access to all clinical data of patients is required to fulfil this role

What does it mean for Hospital Pharmacists? Hospital pharmacists should provide basic clinical services to the greatest extent possible and should pursue the expansion of these activities. Hospital pharmacists should be integrated into health care teams and accepted as decision-makers regarding medication use.
Hospital pharmacists should have full access to all clinical data of patients in order to fulfil this role.

The  Sindelfingen­Boeblingen Medical Center is SILCC Host providing training on this Statement. Please learn more about the SILCC programme here.

The Hospital Gregorio Marañon is SILCC Host providing training on this Statement. Please learn more about the SILCC programme here.