Linked to EAHP Statements:
Section 1: introductory statements and governance
Section 2: selection, procurement and distribution
Section 4: clinical pharmacy services 
Section 5: patient safety and quality assurance

ACPE UAN: 0475-0000-16-009-L04-P. A knowledge based activity.

Abstract

Information is power, and when information is related to a patient's treatment it is also safety and improved clinical outcomes.

Pharmacy departments collect and record much valuable data related to the patients medications, compliance, occurrence of adverse drug reactions etc.: yet this information is not available usually for other stakeholders (community pharmacists, physicians, nurses).

Approximately half of all hospital-related medication errors and 20% of all adverse drug events have been attributed to poor communication at the transitions and interfaces of care. Shared information systems designed to improve communication among health care professionals can support medication reconciliation through interface design and significantly improve performance and safety.

What seems to be clear is that medication reconciliation requires an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach, and the hospital pharmacist together with the information available in the Pharmacy Department is vital to this key process.

Teaching goals:

• To recognise the importance of sharing information generated by Pharmacy Services with other health care providers;
• To identify which information is useful and for whom;
• To meet examples of successful integration of pharmacy information and levels of care with other stakeholders.