Pharmacy practice has changed substantially in recent years. The professionals have the opportunity to contribute directly to patient care in order to reduce morbimortality related to medication use, promoting health and preventing diseases. Healthcare organizations worldwide are under substantial pressure from increasing patient demand. Unfortunately, a cure is not always possible particularly in this era of chronic diseases, and the role of physicians has become limited to controlling and palliating symptoms. The increasing population of patients with long-term conditions are associated with high levels of morbidity, healthcare costs and GP workloads. Clinical pharmacy took over an aspect of medical care that had been partially abandoned by physicians. Overburdened by patient loads and the explosion of new drugs, physicians turned to pharmacists more and more for drug information, especially within institutional settings. Once relegated to counting and pouring, pharmacists headed institutional reviews of drug utilization and served as consultants to all types of health-care facilities. In addition, when clinical pharmacists are active members of the care team, they enhance efficiency by: Providing critical input on medication use and dosing. Working with patients to solve problems with their medications and improve adherence.

Keywords:  Chronic care, Pharmacy intervention; diabetes care, CVD prevention, Inflammatory bowel disease.

Clinical Pharmacists in Chronic Care

Clinical pharmacology is a professional discipline that combines basic pharmacology and clinical medicine. A clinical pharmacist offers invaluable support in the development of a final prescription with better patient management and enhanced safety [1]. Its development began in the early 1950s, primarily as a result of the efforts of Harry Gold. Pharmacist rounding with inpatient hospital services has been traced to the University of Kentucky in 1957 [1, 2]. Drug therapy was becoming much more complex. Graham Calder pioneered a new role for pharmacists on hospital wards in Aberdeen [3].

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Clinical Pharmacists in Chronic care [Part 1]

Obesity is linked to many accompanying comorbidities and has a substantial effect on the cost of health care. Pharmacist are able to provide management and intervention for the treatment of these disease states. This study examined outcomes 12 months prior to pharmacist intervention and 6 months postintervention. The primary outcome was to determine if pharmacist service intervention resulted in improved markers of weight and diabetes. This study revealed significant improvement in the HgbA1c and body mass index (BMI) from baseline (A1c 7.9%, BMI 35.3 kg/m2) to postintervention (A1c 7%, BMI 34.1 kg/m2). These results were statistically significant (P < .001, Bonferroni correction applied for multiple comparisons), indicating the clinical importance of adding pharmacists to the health care team in obesity and diabetes management.

Christian Dolder

Papers

Results of a Pharmacist Intervention on Weight Parameters and A1c Compared to Standard Patient Care.