Service evaluation assessing the effectiveness of pharmacist input to a chemotherapy unit. Zaslona FL, Abedin L, Sim Mutch L Laurel Suite, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport Drug counselling has long been an integral part of medicines management. Chemotherapy outpatients will receive new medications and various amendments through their care. Efficient pharmacist counselling is essential to reduce the prevalence of side effects and are a pervasive patient safety issue. (1) A satellite pharmacy was set up on the chemotherapy unit allowing continuous pharmacy input. The aim was to increase patient-pharmacist interaction utilising the pharmacy skill set, assessing the incidence of side effects and optimise treatment care; ultimately improving patient experience and concordance. The objectives were set to establish the effectiveness of a satellite pharmacy evaluating patient preference and quality of care comparable to the main hospital pharmacy service. A questionnaire was constructed collecting data from 50 patients using the service. The service evaluation composed of 5 questions with a score system grading from one to five. The questionnaires were answered anonymously and completed during a treatment appointment. Patient comments Implementation of the satellite pharmacy has proven favorable. All patients preferred to receive prescriptions on the chemotherapy unit expressing a high quality of service with regards to their treatment plan. A highlighted benefit from the satellite pharmacy was the access of pharmacist input to tailor and prescribe medications dependent upon patient specific needs, enabling a more tolerable cancer journey. Chemotherapy patients are both high risk and high cost. Effective pharmacist counselling can increase medication adherence and suitability reducing potential side effects and delays in treatment. Conclusion Do you prefer your prescriptions to be dispensed on the Laurel suite or to be collected from the main pharmacy? Laurel SuiteMain Pharmacy 100%0% Methods IntroductionResults References Aims Questionnaire ‘The guaranteed continuity of this personal service is important to the patient and dealing with the pharmacist directly is a BIG plus ’ Do your medication queries get answered in a timely manner with full explanation by your pharmacist on the Laurel Suite? Laurel suite satellite pharmacy Do you feel your supportive medications are tailored suitably to your needs? Has the hospital pharmacist helped you achieve this? Do you feel comfortable to ask your pharmacist for any advice regarding your chemotherapy? 1 (strongly Disagree) 2345 (strongly Agree) ---5%95% Dispensing on the satellite unit Do your medication queries get answered in a timely manner with full explanation by your pharmacist on the Laurel Suite? 1 (strongly Disagree) 2345 (strongly Agree) ---10%90% Laurel suite chemotherapy unit ‘The personal touch of seeing the same pharmacist every treatment cycle makes a very positive difference. You feel that they know you and are more aware of specific problems’ Pharmacist working on the unit Pharmacist counselling on the clinic ‘Previous experience of waiting a full day before discharge whilst the main pharmacy dispensed medication resulted in my very strong preference for the laurel suite approach’ ‘Fabulous staff….absolute excellence’ ‘A wonderful service. A personal service’ ‘With the pharmacist on site, all questions are answered immediately whereas queueing at the pharmacy would not necessarily give you the immediate answers you require’ ‘The pharmacy set up is brilliant. It allows a good, close relationship between staff and patient, all issues are resolved efficiently and quickly’ Pharmacy counselling role on the Laurel suite : Medicines reconciliation Medication counselling Phone advice/assessment Toxicity assessment Prescribing supportive medication Results: Prescriptions dispensed on the laurel suite provides a desirable service Treatment of side effects are managed well with a pharmacist based on the unit Advice is readily available when required Treatment of side effects can be done so whilst patient is receiving chemotherapy 1) Schnipper J, Kirwin J, Cotugno M et al. Role of Pharmacist Counselling in Preventing Adverse Drug Events After Hospitalization. Archive of Internal Medicine Vol.166 No.5