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Community pharmacies are sometimes confused with retail ones, operating out of different large and small chains and grocery stores. However, a community pharmacist is much more than a traditional retail setting. Community-based pharmacies also include outpatient pharmacies that are found within health systems, primary care clinics, and federally qualified health centers. They essentially prepare medication for patients who need modified formulations and unique dosing. A lot of pharmacists pursue community-based residencies or fellowships to improve their leadership and clinical skills, preparing them to thrive as community pharmacists.
Who is a Community Pharmacist?
If you don’t know who a community pharmacist is, let me give you a brief overview. A community pharmacist is responsible for dispensing/supplying prescription medicines. They are also involved in maintaining and improving patients’ health by providing advice and information.
They also sell over-the-counter medical products and instruct people in regards to the usage of medicines and medical appliances. They are typically based in high street pharmacies in large, medium-sized, or small chain stores, independent pharmacies of various sizes. They also work in a doctor’s practice or health centers.
Role of a Community Pharmacist in Patient Safety
Historically, the concept of five rights has been used to describe five steps that lead to the safe use of medication: the right dose of medication, taken by the right patient at the right time, by the right route.
This concept is only an oversimplification and additional steps for safety medication must be taken into account. A lot of these steps are dependent on the context in which the medication-related process is occurring. Each part of the medication process involves different numbers and rights. For instance, in a community pharmacy setting, outcomes like right education, right monitoring, documentation, and formulation will be taken into consideration.
The modern-day concept of medication safety involves much more than five rights and the focus has subsequently shifted to the contribution of system factors towards medication safety. Other factors considered include technologies, procedures, workflow, procedures, and other system factors that support multiple outcomes rather than being heavily focused on a 5 marker checklist.
Pharmacist in Community
Community pharmacists ensure medication safety throughout the medication-use process, ordering of medications to storage, preparation, transcription, counseling, dispensing, and more. Prior to the dispensing process, the community pharmacist proves a clinical review of prescribed medications and contraindications. They also consider that medications might have been ordered by multiple prescribers.
Community pharmacist also provides critical monitoring in the distribution of controlled substances. It includes consulting prescription drug monitoring programs to pinpoint patterns that indicate abuse and diversion and potentially fatal interactions in multiple prescribers.
Pharmacists also identify the risk of fatal overdose facilitate access to emergency opioid reversal and substance abuse treatment services when suited.
A clinical review is essential for all prescriptions and ensures that all errors associated with the care transition process are caught and corrected before dispensing medication.
In addition to that, community pharmacist plays an important role when it comes to ensuring patients’ understanding of their medication. A community pharmacist is well equipped to provide the necessary education and counseling to patients and address any questions that might have in terms of dosing, administration, storage, potential side effects, and altering medication for acute events.
Community pharmacists are an invaluable resource for supporting public health initiatives. A study showed that individuals visited community-based pharmacies on average, 35 times per year and primary care physicians, 4 times per year. This frequent contact with patients makes community pharmacists optimally positioned to support triage concerns as well as any public health initiatives.
Multiple studies show that community pharmacists have a positive impact on preventative healthcare such as immunizations, screenings, opioid management, smoking cessation efforts, and management of chronic diseases.
Unique Position of Pharmacist to Improve Safety
The unique position of community pharmacists makes them all the more useful and effective in the medication safety department. Here is why:
- Community pharmacists have the time and clinical expertise to bring about a positive change in patients’ management of chronic conditions that require multiple medications.
- Community pharmacists are an accessible and affordable health care resource. Most patients find it easier to consult with a pharmacist than a physician.
- The community pharmacist often becomes the first point of care in the health industry.
- Community pharmacists play an important role in coaching patients on the side effects of medications and the importance of taking them as prescribed.
What Supports Community Pharmacies in Ensuring Patient Safety?
While community pharmacists play an important role in patient safety, there are a lot more factors that are of critical importance here. Organizations that have a strong culture of patient safety achieve the goal much more effectively. They are not only in a great position to ensure patient safety from outset but also know the importance of dedicating time and resources aside to tracking, understanding, and addressing the concerns of patients, safety events, and near-misses. Relevant surveys can also help pharmacies assess the current state of their safety culture and figure out which areas need improvement.
Apart from a very strong safety culture, open communication and ease of access to prescribers support pharmacists in the prevention of errors. State-based health info exchange, electronic health records, and interoperability between data systems also facilitate open communication. Open communication is primarily dependent on ensuring information consistency, seamless sharing of the patient’s data between pharmacist and prescriber. Ease of access alone allows community pharmacists to address any potential concerns that are discovered upon clinical review of the treatment plan for a patient.
Final Takeaway
Community pharmacists play a very important role in patient safety, patient education and often serve as the first point of care for most patients. However, they also need support to further improve patient safety.
Essentially, fostering relationships between patients and pharmacist support patent care and safety. It also encourages the patient to develop their trust in community pharmacists, increasing their chances of seeking counseling, addressing concerns regarding medication therapy as well as providing a detailed medical history.