Sale Of Medicines Protocol Flashcards
What is responding to symptoms
A process undertaken in response to a patient making an enquiry or request over the counter
Why is RTS important (5)
1) midnight pharmacies ( surgeries are not open late)
2) government health policies encourage patients to take ownership:
- support for self care/self medication
- minor ailments scheme
3) ask your friendly pharmacist
4) OTC medication can be cheaper than POM e.g paracetamol
5) eye drops for conjunctivitis - ( chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops)
The pharmacy team is made up of a health care assistant , pharmacy technician and pharmacist. Explain how RTS impacts on each of them (3)
1) health care assistant - frontline of all RTS queries
- knowledgable about GSL and P meds
- responses may involve: advice and reassurance, sale or supply of meds, referral to pharmacy technician or pharmacist
2) pharmacy technician - have a thorough knowledge of GSL, P and some POM medicines . They are the intermediate between the health care assistant and the pharmacist
- responses may involve : advice and reassurance, sale or supply of meds , referral to pharmacist
3) pharmacist- have a thorough knowledge of GSL, P and POM medicines.
- they have a thorough knowledge about numerous ailments, and are in the position to refer patients when necessary e.g. Product not licensed for patient , or patient requires intervention by another healthcare provider.
- responses may involve: advice and reassurance, sale or supply of meds, referral to another healthcare provider
What is the sales of medical protocol (2)
1) a protocol is essentially a SOP
2) dictates who can do what
- it states the various roles of team members and what their roles and limitations are
- directs team members to a stores “care card”
List the products where referral to a pharmacist is necessary (4)
1) EHC - emergency hormonal contraception
2) malaria prophylaxis
3) medicines stored in the dispensary
4) POM to P switches e.g sumatriptan (1st supply)
List the products which may be abused or misused (5)
1) pseudoephedrine
2) codeine
3) morphine
4) laxatives
5) sedatives
List the patients to refer to a pharmacist (3)
1) advice for a child under 6
2) patients over 40 with heartburn for first time
3) patients with recurrent symptoms
What questions do we need to find out during a RTS? (5)
1) who is the patient
2) what are the symptoms
3) how long have the symptoms been present
4) action taken
5) medications being taken
What does the acronym sit down ‘SIT DOWN SIR’ stand for?
Site or location
Intensity or severity
Type or nature
Duration
Onset
What other symptoms
aNnoyed or aggravated by
Spread or radiation
Incidence or frequency
Relieved by?
What questions relating to symptoms would you ask a patient during a RTS (6)
1) what are the symptoms
2) how long have they been present
3) previous history of these symptoms
4) what have they been doing recently
5) aggravated or relieved by anything
6) any other symptoms or information?
What questions regarding medicines would you ask during a RTS? (6)
1) have they tried any medicines to relieve symptoms ? How long have they been used , did they help?
2) current medication
3) dietary restrictions. Hypertension: salt intake , diabetic: sugar intake
4) herbal medicine
5) nutritional supplements
6) medicinal allergies
What is a differential diagnosis and what does it involve? (4)
the process of differentiating between two or more conditions which share similar signs or symptoms.
- distinguish between major or minor illness
- in the medical setting this involves: taking patient history, physical examination of patient , diagnostic tests
- pharmacists : thorough and comprehensive patient history .
Outline when you would refer a patient (5)
1) severe pain
2) treatment failure
3) adverse drug reaction
4) recurring or worsening of symptoms
5) length or duration of symptoms
List the red flag symptoms (5)
1) unexplained weight loss
2) blood in sputum
3) blood in faeces
4) blood in vomit
5) severe chest pain
- refer the patient to see an appropriate medical professional, with the greatest urgency e.g GP, dentist, specialist/ consultant
