Enhanced Communication Between Pharmacists Improves Care Provision at Discharge

Enhanced communication about clinical information rendered pharmacists more confident in providing patient care after a hospital discharge, according to findings published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.

“Community pharmacists are often the initial health care professionals whom patients encounter after hospital discharge but are rarely provided relevant discharge information,” researchers said.

Investigators conducted a multidisciplinary intersystem quality improvement project by enacting a pharmacist-to-pharmacist discharge summary (P2PDS) in an academic medical center. The P2PDS was implemented among inpatient pharmacists, who conduct medication reconciliation at time of discharge and distribute electronic prescriptions to community pharmacies. Community pharmacists offered input on the P2PDS as it was created.

Community pharmacists identified 388 medication discrepancies, 16% of which were considered ‘unintentional,’ among 161 patients.

Additionally, pharmacists identified 25 patients as candidates for medication management services. Of these, 20 patients used all 3 available services by enrolling in medication delivery, synchronization, and packaging.

With the P2PDS in place, community pharmacists felt more confident in discharge medication filling (40% vs 95%, P < 0.001), and more patients received community pharmacist medication reconciliation (14% to 76%, P < 0.001).

“Enhancing pharmacist communication across practice settings with a pharmacist-to-pharmacist discharge summary decreases care fragmentation through identification of medication discrepancies and improves pharmacist confidence in patient care provision,” study authors concluded.

Reference:
Kerstenetzky-Brenny L, Adamsick ML, Lauscher RL, Kennelty KA, Hager DR. Pharmacist discharge summary: Impact of inpatient to community pharmacist handoff at hospital discharge. J Am Pharm Assoc. Published online August 11, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2022.08.005