core concepts and skills

Question 1

what is medicines optimisation?

Answer 1

a focused approach to the best investment from medicines which will lead to better outcomes

Question 2

what are the 4 principles of medicines optimisation?

Answer 2

principle 1: understand patient experiences
principle 2: choose medicine with best evidence, clinically appropriate and cost effective
principle 3: ensure safe use of medicines is the pharmacist and patients responsibility
principle 4: make medicines optimisation a routine practise

Question 3

what is pharmaceutical care? what does it involve?

Answer 3

it is the responsible provision of drugs for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve the patients health and quality of life

it involves assessing the pharmaceutical needs of the pt. minimising risks and optimising benefits from drug therapy. eg is it the right dose and drug, any interactions, any side effects etc

Question 4

what is professional empowerment

Answer 4

pharmacists must feel empowered to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of patients

at an INDIVIDUAL level: develops knowledge, skills, experience, confidence that inspires authority and professionalism

at a wider level: create an environment around the individual to allow for the above

Question 5

what is a just culture? [the right culture]

Answer 5

an environment based on fairness, leads to improved patient safety.
open culture [transparent]
reporting culture [raising concerns]
learning culture [learning from mistakes]

Question 6

how can we use social media responsibly? [6 ways]

Answer 6

1. be aware of potential audience. pt can see posts that can affect professional image and pharmacy reputation
2. follow company/nhs trust policies
3. maintain professional boundaries with pt
4. dont disclose confidential pt information
5. be accurate and impartial when teaching, providing information. do not mislead people
6. avoid conflicts of interests

Question 7

what is professional judgement?

Answer 7

accumulated knowledge, experience, critical reasoning to make an informed professional decision.

Question 8

what must be submitted every year as part of a revalidation process?

Answer 8

1. 4 CPDs [at least 2 planned]
2. a reflective account
3. a peer discussion

Question 9

1. what is an independent prescriber?

2. what is a supplementary prescriber?

Answer 9

1. assesses patients with undiagnosed/diagnosed conditions and can prescribe medicines to manage their condition
2. prescribes within an agreed patient specific written clinical management plan [CMP] agreed with the pt doctor/dentist

Question 10

how do you report adverse drug reactions?

Answer 10

report on the yellow card scheme

Question 11

what is medicines reconciliation and when should these be carried out?

Answer 11

looking through an accurate list of a patients current medicines [including OTC, medicines recently stopped or started, and as required medicines], discussing these with the pt, finding any changes, discrepancies and changes etc.
should be done whenever pt transferred to another care setting, when they are admitted to hospital or transferred between wards

Question 12

what areas need to be considered when undertaking a clinical check?

Answer 12

1. pt characteristics
2. medication regimen
3. administration and monitoring of drug

Question 13

define polypharmacy

Answer 13

when people are taking a number of medicines

Question 14

what is a pharmacist consultation and what kind of framework can be used during the consultation?

Answer 14

it is any discussion of a professional nature between a pharmacist and patient. can use the medication related consultation framework