Pharmaceutical review
Policy
Baseline Data Collection Audit
Background
In April 2004 Australia’s Health Ministers agreed on a national health reform agenda. To reduce the number of adverse events and improve patient safety, the eight safety and quality initiatives were endorsed. One of these key safety initiatives was the implementation of a ‘process of pharmaceutical review of medication prescribing, dispensing, administration and documenting process for the use of medicines.’
To assist health services in meeting the Ministers’ agreement, the Department of Health, in consultation with a multidisciplinary Expert Advisory Group, developed the Pharmaceutical Review Policy.
The process of pharmaceutical review outlined in this policy is ‘the systematic appraisal of all aspects of a patient’s medication management to optimise patient outcomes.’ It consists of five standards:
- Chart review
- Medication reconciliation
- Medication education during hospitalisation
- Discharge process: communication with general practitioners and other health professionals
- Quality initiatives promoting medication safety