1. Remote access to GP Practice Patient Medication Records in community pharmacy
Sam Falconer (IPP) and Jack Zonfrillo (Pre-Reg) of Limetree Healthcare, Townhead Pharmacy, Kilwinning.
Introduction
Early findings
Conclusions and future work
At the moment community pharmacies are not able to access patient information from GP Practices which hinders the provision of maximal pharmaceutical care for patients. The idea of remote access to the GP Practice was highlighted during independent pharmacist prescribing (IPP) clinics. The GP’s agreed to the sharing of patient information allowing the pilot to start. Data protection was of paramount importance and only the IPP can access the system, with numerous security measures in place.
Although the full potential of this pilot is yet to be seen, many benefits are already apparent. Information is transferred both ways; removing “grey” areas between the GP Practice and community pharmacy. It facilitates the use of pharmacist delivered IPP clinics while maximising pharmacy services like Pharmacy First. The beneficial effects for both the community pharmacy and GP Practice are highlighted below:
The pilot has facilitated community pharmacists liaising with healthcare professionals within the GP Practice, improving communication between the two. The enhanced communication links can only aid in improving the pharmaceutical care of patients.
In the future, we aim to continue advancing the pilot, discovering more potential uses, and utilize it to improve the care of our patients. Building upon this, we aim to discover further advantages through medication reviews and respiratory reviews.
Benefits to community pharmacy
Access to full patient history – allergies, drug history
Allows direct messaging to another healthcare professional in the GP Practice e.g. nurse, GP or pharmacist
Appointment slots allows the pharmacist to book patients appointments with other healthcare professionals e.g. nurse or GP
“Tasks” allows the community pharmacist to communicate queries directly to intended healthcare professional
Allows direct and instant addition of information into patient notes
Aim of pilot
Demonstrate benefits for both community pharmacy and GP Practice
Demonstrate accessibility and reliability of community pharmacy
Identify new opportunities
Improve communication links
Record keeping
Benefits to GP Practice
Doctors, nurses and pharmacists at the GP Practice are able to see the patient’s consultations with the community pharmacist and the measures already taken to address common clinical conditions
Appointment slots allows GP Practice to book patients appointments with their community pharmacy
”Tasks” allows the GP Practice to communicate any queries for the community pharmacist
Case study
The GP Practice booked a patient presenting with a sore throat to see their community pharmacist using the allocated appointment slots.
During the consultation, the patient was unsure of any allergies. Their files were then accessed to analyse their drug, medical history and allergies etc.
It was noted that the patient was penicillin allergic and therefore this influenced the prescribing of a more suitable antibiotic. The consultation was then noted in their GP Practice file.
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