1. J Pharm Belg. 2008 Sep;63(3):69-72.

[Continuity in patient care upon hospital discharge: evaluation of a clinical
pharmacy discharge form for community pharmacists]

[Article in French]

Cavrenne P, Spinewine A.

Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc Bruxelles, Belgique.
pauline.cavrenne@uclouvain.be

BACKGROUND: Upon hospital discharge, patients' treatment frequently differ from
treatment on admission. In order to improve continuity of care, transmission of
pharmacotherapeutic information would be helpful for community pharmacists.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the interest of a "pharmacy discharge plan to community
pharmacists. DESIGN: Prospective pilot study. Upon hospital discharge, patients
with treatment modifications received a discharge plan, written by the clinical
pharmacist and addressed to their community pharmacists. Two weeks later, the
investigator called them to evaluate this document. SETTING: Two teaching
hospitals in Belgium. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Discharge Plan was evaluated
with regard to: usefulness for continuity of care; quality of practical
information given; feasibility in terms of time for hospital pharmacists;
modalities of transmission; suggestions for improvement. RESULTS: 18 patients
were included in the study: 12 pharmacists received the discharge plan. 10
pharmacists thought the document facilitated continuity of patient care; 5 used
it to counsel their patients; 10 pharmacists agreed with the modalities of
transmission. The mean time needed to fill the document was 25 minutes.
Suggestions for improvements were: to add more practical informations (including 
on unusual drugs); to insist on treatment changes during hospitalisation.
CONCLUSIONS: This study contributed to the creation of the first pharmacy
discharge plan in Belgium. Although improvements could be made, results show that
community pharmacists are receptive for this collaboration.

PMID: 18972862 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]