MEDICATION RELATED PROBLEMS AND CLINICAL PHARMACIST INTERCESSION TO RESOLVE THOSE AS DIRECT PATIENT CARE PROCESS

Abstract

Medication related problems (MRPs) are ‘any preventable event that may cause or lead to an inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient or consumer’. Whereas prescribing error is an error in the choice or administration of drugs for patients including; incorrect dose or medicine, duplicate therapy, incorrect route of administration or even wrong patient. These conditions are frequent in general practice and in hospitals setup and can result in grim patient harm. Clinical Pharmacists can play a significant role by identification and modification of these errors. Thorough prescription review, timely intercession, patient interview and follow-up can reduce the quantity of MRPs. Here we discussed about five cases where definite MRPs was identified by the clinical pharmacist during medication chart review and those were thoroughly cross matched with standard reference to established as developed due to prescription error. Same were reported to the visiting doctor and subsequent modifications were suggested to resolve those issues. This case series analysis concludes that MRPs are appearing due to prescription error and that need to be addressed with proper management strategy. Support by clinical pharmacist intercession as a direct patient care process in optimizing drug therapy by providing proper medication information was highly accepted and appreciated by various doctors and has achieved enhanced therapeutic outcome.