In the past, the pharmacists’ role in healthcare was centered on ensuring the safe prescribing and dispensing of medications to patients. With an ever-expanding scope of practice, their function becomes increasingly important in addressing complex patient needs.

Better Medication Management

Serious complications can arise when patients do not take their medications as prescribed. Where a patient takes a high volume of prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines, the possibility of drug interactions and prescribing errors also increases. Pharmacists can provide Quality Use of Medicine services via Home Medicines Reviews and Residential Medication Management Reviews. They can ensure accurate and effective routines in taking prescribed medicines and identify potential side effects. Discussing medication safety can also help improve medication adherence, especially to patients with chronic illnesses.

Deprescribing

There is evidence to suggest that pharmacists’ educational intervention succeeded in discontinuing risky medications in 43% of enrolled patients after six months, versus the 12% of patients where they didn’t intervene. Prescribers may not always be aware of the medications a patient may be taking. If pharmacists get a prescription that looks unsafe to use with a patient’s other medications, they can liaise with the prescriber.

Recommend Appropriate Alternatives

The high cost of medications often leads many patients not to fill their prescriptions. But pharmacists’ ability to detect and prevent medication errors also allows them to help reduce the healthcare costs of patients.

If the cost of prescribed medicines is overly burdensome, pharmacists can recommend appropriate yet cheaper alternatives. In addition to using a prescription discount app, patients can safely get more affordable medications by asking the pharmacist for a generic equivalent.

Promote Proper Immunizations

In Australia, pharmacists can become a pharmacist immuniser to provide immunisation services. If administering vaccines is not feasible, pharmacists can still promote proper immunisations through the following:

• Identifying patients in need of immunization
• Advising patients of their need for immunization
• Providing information and recommendations on the risks and benefits of vaccinations

Optimize Health Technology

With technological advances, pharmacists have more opportunities to get involved in improving patient’s safety. For instance, the use of robotic dispensing reduces error and allows pharmacists to allot enough time on medication therapy management tasks. In addition, by being a user of health technology, pharmacists can help in ensuring that it is used accurately and effectively.