2014 GPIs now online!

Following the success of the GPI session at last year’s congress we  wanted to invite more submissions relating to the newly approved European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy.

As inspiration please find below some examples from last year highlighting the various sections and areas practice we want to share with colleagues across the world.

Click HERE for more information.

“eLearning Environment for Ensuring the Competence in Pharmacotherapy” - Finland

The use of eLearning environment in pharmacotherapy is widespread in Finland. It has harmonized the processes of ensuring the competence in pharmacotherapy in 15 of 20 hospital districts almost 20 municipalities or joint councils and tens of private service providers. Studies on the effectiveness of the eLearning courses are in progress.

“pediatric-dosages.ch” - Switzerland

With the aim to provide data about paediatric dosages in a highly structured manner in order to enable integration into the electronic prescribing process as “clinical decision support”. The creation of the website provides healthcare professionals with data about paediatric dosages in a user-friendly way and has proven popular with healthcare professionals;  within one year 37 institutions and more than 9,000 single users have registered.

“Early-stage experiences of the implementation of a large-scale robotic storage and distribution system in a hospital pharmacy service within a large UK health authority.”  - UK

The redesign of hospital procurement services aimed to centralise the procurement of medicines, improved medication safety and allow pharmacy staff to perform clinical roles. Interviews performed following a 46 month implementation period identified  some issues regarding description of staff roles, effective communication and staff morale. The use of robotics may lead to resistance by staff but if addressed at an early stage they can effectively be overcome.

"Medication Safety Audits developed and conducted by a hospital pharmacy in Finland" - Finland

The development of a pharmacist led audit to evaluate the safety of medication processes on the hopsital wards was integrated with 4 Delphi panels of pharmacists and other helathcare professionals. Areas of identified risk included prescribing, transcroption, labelling, administration and patient counselling. This led to a high alert medication list, double checking practice and the promotion of medication error reporting.

"Medication reviews conducted by clinical pharmacist in emergency ward" - Finland

The initiation of a clinical pharmacy service in the emergency department is described including the daily review of medication of newly admitted patients. Piloted in 855 admissions over a 5 month period concluded that the role of an ED pharmacist can detect and recover possible errors in medication use. Cost benefit analysis will be conducted in the future.

“High Performance Medicines Management – HPMM” - Sweden

HPMM was designed to provide healthcare system quality assurance, making use of the core components identified as strategic management , patient’s use of medicines and healthcare system handling of medicines .  Using Delphi methods and systematic review a unique  and scientifically based audit tool which could improvement medicines management processes worldwide.

"National monitor for the quality of medication surveillance" – The Netherlands

A monitoring system of the provision of medication surveillance was created, and has been implemented in approximately 55% of all hospital pharmacies. Aspects included in the monitor inclue medication review, dosage checks, protocols and pharmacotherapeutic knowledge.