Transitions of care kit for doctors, pharmacists released

Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) have released a first-of-its-kind resource kit to help Australians and their care teams through one of the riskiest stages of the patient journey. Developed in collaboration through their respective expert committees, the Medication Management at Transitions of Care resource kit comprises three resources to support accurate, clear and timely communication as patients transition through care providers.

Having been recognised as a key issue by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, transitions of care typically involve complex care arrangements, multiple care providers and interdisciplinary teams at various stages of care. The resource kit covers:

1. Practice Update: Medication Management at Transitions of Care, which clearly defines the role of the hospital pharmacist, general practice pharmacist, and the general practitioner (GP) in delivering safe and quality medication management services to their patients transitioning between acute and primary care;
2. Resource for healthcare professionals: Safe Medication Management at Transitions of Care, which supports healthcare professionals in ensuring effective and safe medication management during patient transitions between care settings; and
3. Resources for consumers: Medication safety when moving between the community and hospital, which helps consumers manage their medicines safely when moving between home and hospital.

“Research shows medication-related adverse events occur in approximately 20% of patients following discharge, two-thirds of which are considered preventable,” AdPha President Tom Simpson FANZCAP (Leds&Mgmt) said. “Safely transitioning from primary to acute care, and back to primary care following a significant health event, relies on clear, accurate and timely communication between healthcare providers in both sectors, and with the patient and/or their carer.”

About the resource kit, Simpson said: “As pharmacy and medical teams work together to guide patients through care transitions, it’s fantastic they now have a resource kit to promote continuity of care, optimise medication management, and reduce the risk of medication-related issues.”

RACGP President Dr Michael Wright described the kit as a valuable tool. “Appropriate clinical handover reduces the risk of readmission to hospital after discharge,” Wright said. “These resources will strengthen collaboration between specialist GPs, general practice-based pharmacists, and hospital pharmacists to ensure best practice team care and better patient outcomes.”

The resource kit is available here and here, via the AdPha and RACGP websites.

Image credit: iStock.com/sturti