ED Medicine Wise

Generate PDF
Initiative Type
Model of Care
Status
Deliver
Added
Last updated

Summary

ED Medicine Wise was established in collaboration with the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RWBH) pharmacy department. An extended-hours pharmacy service was funded using hospital own-source revenue realignment and operates 7am to 11pm, seven days per week. The ED pharmacists prioritise clinical review of ED patients at high risk of drug related problems [DRP], including:

  • All admitted and Short Stay “inpatients”
  • Non-admitted patients aged >65 years, on >2 NCCD and/or >5 medications
  • ED clinician suspects drug related presentation
  • Trauma, poisoning and resus cohorts
  • Patients prescribed an opioid, antipsychotic, antimicrobial, or anticoagulant
Key dates
Jul 2016
Sep 2017
Implementation sites
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
Partnerships
Healthcare Improvement Unit

Aim

  • Investigate if the introduction of an extended hours clinical pharmacy service.
  • Identify and evaluate barriers and enablers to successful implementation of the clinical innovation.
  • Account for the disruptive impact of an electronic dispensing system, “Pyxis”, once implemented.

Benefits

  • Reduced medication related problems in the ED.

Background

Prior to the implementation of ED Medicine Wise, less than 5% of presentations were seen by the pharmacy service. Such deficiencies in a multidisciplinary approach increases the likelihood of adverse drug events [ADEs], increased length of stay [LOS], higher mortality rates, and increased healthcare costs (Roughead et al., 2016).

Solutions Implemented

The pharmacist reconciles the patient’s medication history and conducts a medication review to identify medication problems. The pharmacist documents the medication history and medication problems and communicates a plan to nursing/medical staff to implement agreed changes.

A medicines governance group has been established to introduce an integrated medicine wise program. The medicine wise culture will be fostered to reduce errors and optimise use of high risk medicines, improve continuity of care, increase early implementation of medication planning, and release capacity. Activities to enable a medical wise culture include delivery of structured education, guideline/protocol development, and quality improvement/research projects.

Share this

Key contact

Laureen Hines
Service Improvement Manager
Healthcare Improvement Unit
(07) 3328 9937
Laureen.Hines@health.qld.gov.au

Related projects

Project tags