Link to EAHP Statements

• Section 1 – Introductory Statements and Governance: Statement – 1.1
• Section 4 – Clinical Pharmacy Services: Statements – 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.8
• Section 5 – Patient Safety and Quality Assurance: Statements – 5.1, 5.5

Abstract 

The demand for healthcare is on the rise in Europe, leading to concerns about the strain on the healthcare system posed by the shortage of manpower, an aging population, and greater healthcare costs. Hospital pharmacists face the challenge of delivering high-quality clinical pharmacy services while working efficiently with healthcare teams. However, how are patients engaged in these healthcare teams?

A growing body of evidence suggests that a solution to the current problems of healthcare sustainability is the active involvement of patients in health management through the empowerment of their abilities. Engaging patients' abilities to participate in their own health management can result in better outcomes for clinical pharmacy services, such as medication reconciliation and patient education. Currently, patients tend to be passive members of healthcare teams. However, recent years have seen patients become more proactive in gathering information and managing their own health status, as exemplified by the rising use of online platforms like PatientsLikeMe and MyHealthTeams.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) programme "Health 2020" identifies active patient participation as the main goal for achieving better healthcare results. By facilitating patient engagement and collaboration, patients and healthcare providers can identify areas of improvement in sustainable practices and work together to create a more sustainable healthcare system. Hospital pharmacists can play a key role in achieving important goals towards healthcare sustainability, including cost reduction, improved health outcomes, fewer wasted resources, more prevention, improved service quality, and increased patient satisfaction.

This seminar will explore examples of patient engagement in clinical pharmacy services and propose ways to increase patient involvement to enhance efficiency and quality. By involving patients as active participants in healthcare teams, hospital pharmacists can contribute to the creation of sustainable healthcare systems that benefit patients and healthcare providers alike.

Learning objectives

After this session, participants should be able to:

• Describe how patients can be involved to increase the efficiency and quality of clinical pharmacy services
• Know examples of clinical pharmacy services where patient engagement can be increased

Educational need addressed

Hospital pharmacists work alongside healthcare teams to provide expert medication management and advice to ensure safe and effective drug therapy. This seminar will focus on how patients can be involved to increase the efficiency and quality of clinical pharmacy services in daily practice.

Keywords

Patient engagement, patient empowerment, medication safety, medication errors, sustainability