Pharmacists chart vaccines

NEW Australian research published in the latest issue of the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and

Research (JPPR) has strengthened the case for pharmacist-led influenza vaccination in hospital inpatients, revealing they more consistently chart their vaccinations.

In addition, a long-term study showed increased uptake of Home Medicines Reviews among Australian veterans.

The influenza research, published in the Jun issue of JPPR, the flagship journal of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA), explored pharmacists’ assessment of appropriateness and charting of influenza vaccination in Emergency Short Stay Unit (ESSU) and General Medicine Unit (GMU) patients in a partnered pharmacist charting model.

The researchers, led by Erica Tong and Professor Michael Dooley from the Alfred Hospital, found that among inpatients with partnered pharmacist charting who were eligible for vaccination, 60% had their vaccination charted, compared to zero inpatients who had their medication charted by a medical officer only.

The release of the research comes just weeks after Tong was honoured as the lead author of research that collected the prestigious MJA, MDA National Prize for Excellence in Medical Research (PD 28 May).

Other research into uptake of collaborative medicines reviews, by researchers from the Sansom Institute for Health Research at the University of South Australia, found positive effects derived from nationwide campaigns promoting Home Medicines Reviews (HMR) in 2004, 2006 and 2011.

The June issue also highlights the need for collaborative pharmacy practice to minimise fragmentation of patient care.

SHPA Primary Care and Transitions of Care chair Deirdre Criddle says it’s time to prioritise hospital pharmacist-led models of care targetting timely post-discharge medication management services for high-risk patients.