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ApoLänk decreases patient medication discrepancies at discharge: initial experience from a Swedish bedside pharmacy service
  1. Tommy Eriksson1,
  2. Frida Strobel Wallin2,
  3. Karin Henricson2,
  4. Anna Lundin3,
  5. Jesper Petersson3
  1. 1Clinical Pharmacology, Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
  2. 2Hospital Pharmacy, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
  3. 3Neurology Department, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
  1. Correspondence to Dr Tommy Eriksson, Clinical Pharmacology, Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lunds universitet box 188, Lund 221 00, Sweden; tommy.eriksson{at}med.lu.se

Abstract

Objective To develop a working model so that dispensing pharmacists, patients and medical staff can work together to identify, solve and prevent problems associated with discharge prescriptions.

Methods A routine was developed for communication between pharmacists, patients and medical staff and for dispensing drugs at the bedside. Hospital medication lists and prescriptions from the pharmacy and healthcare databases were simultaneously assessed. The study was carried out in two neurological wards in a Swedish university hospital.

Results Major shortcomings were identified in the coordination of pharmacy and healthcare records and in patients’ ability to take responsibility for their medication at discharge. Discussion between patients and staff allowed discrepancies in communication and documentation to be corrected. Cooperation between pharmacists and nurses was perceived as being very positive and important.

Conclusions The Apolänk service was appreciated by nurses, is almost cost neutral and reduces discrepancies that have the potential to cause patient harm.

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