An Australian hospital pharmacy department’s pandemic response plan to coronavirus disease of 2019

Abstract

AbstractAimThis paper provides the main accomplishments of the Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) Pharmacy Department’s COVID‐19 Pandemic Response Plan and key recommendations for other departments developing a remote model of care.MethodsThe overall objective was to preserve the active workforce by minimising staff‐to‐staff and staff‐to‐patient contact. The response plan involved splitting the department into teams, implementing a remote ward‐based clinical pharmacy service, staff upskilling and optimising the physical environment.ResultsIn April 2020, 1240 clinical tasks were completed remotely compared with 1254 tasks completed on site. In May 2020, 1700 tasks were completed offsite, compared with 1544 tasks onsite. The percentage of pharmacists rating themselves 5 out of 5 (very confident) in communicating over the phone increased from 34.8% prior to remote service delivery, to 60% after completion of the service. Counselling patients over the phone increased from 17.4% to 40% while providing remote clinical service increased from 26.1% to 80%.DiscussionThe paper provides key recommendations for other sites wanting to implement a remote model of care. There are details of recommendations for communication, adequate skill mix, upskilling, education, training, staff resilience, role expansion and administration.ConclusionThe formation of a team hospital pharmacy department COVID‐19 Pandemic Response Plan has provided assurance that a complete pharmacy service could continue in the event of reduced staffing. Intense, thoughtful, collaborative work was required in a short period of time to design an appropriate physical environment, create a remote working model of care, and to train and educate members of staff.