2005 Finalist

"The Botox effect - Patients sent home wrinkle free"

Patients leaving Hutt Hospital are benefiting from a new pharmacy discharge service designed to make life easier for them, their carers and their healthcare providers.

An internal audit found that about one in seven patients being discharged were given incomplete prescriptions. It also found that written medication cards given to patients on discharge were poorly written and confusing, that local GPs had concerns about summaries of treatment in hospital, and that the patient's community pharmacist, who often had background knowledge of the patient, was being under utilised. In addition patients with specific cultural needs were not being referred to community follow-up services.

Under the new service hospital pharmacists talk with the patients and their carers to make sure they understand the medication regime and with the patient's community pharmacist to discuss relevant issues.

Pharmacists now check the hospital discharge summaries and prescriptions for clarity and completeness, fax a copy of the discharge prescription and summary of medication changes (and the reasons why) to the community pharmacy with an expected discharge date so medications can be ready when required. There is also follow up contact with the patient seven to ten days after discharge.

The introduction of the discharge service is improving the prescribing of the junior medical staff and leading to better patient care in the community.

Hutt Valley District Health Board
Contact: Richard Bridge 04 570 9156
Email: Richard.Bridge@huttvalleydhb.org.nz