[Dispensing standardised medication in a tertiary hospital emergency department]

Farm Hosp. 2011 May-Jun;35(3):106-13. doi: 10.1016/j.farma.2010.06.010. Epub 2011 Mar 21.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Introduction: It is well-known that there is a lack of continuity in care received from the emergency department, as patients have to visit their physician in order to receive official prescriptions. A programme has been designed that aims to provide these patients with a therapeutic protocol to ensure that they are treated, thus improving coordination between the Hospital Emergency Department and Primary Care.

Methods: Creating a multidisciplinary team. Choosing the diagnoses that are most common in the emergency department and which are likely to be standardised. Developing treatment protocols, adapting them to the diagnoses selected. Creating a database, collecting, processing and analysing data. Designing satisfaction surveys, for patients given a therapeutic protocol, and for practitioners involved in the programme.

Results: Treatment protocols were assigned to the nine most common diagnoses in the emergency department, with three-day treatment. The selected diagnoses covered 19.5% of the population attending the Emergency Department. A treatment protocol was dispensed to 17.3% of patients with the selected diagnoses. Patient satisfaction was excellent. Physicians approved of the programme, but the treatment protocol prescription did not agree with the degree of approval.

Conclusions: The results show that the programme was excellently accepted by both patients and physicians, although the coverage given to the needs identified was lower than required.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Protocols
  • Drug Prescriptions / standards*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital*
  • Humans
  • Job Satisfaction
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Pharmacy Service, Hospital / standards*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires