Education Outreach to the Community: Does Hospital Pharmacy Have a Role?

Abstract

This paper describes the activities carried out by a hospital pharmacy department as part of a national co‐ordinated care trial. The objective was to examine ways in which a hospital pharmacy could provide support to general practitioners (GPs) involved in the trial through the promotion of rational, safe, effective and economic use of medication. A Pharmacy Strategy Group was established and identified five service products: education outreach, drug information services, special medication review and counselling, medication check‐up and computer database analysis. The scope of these services and the experience gained in the trial is outlined. The most successful service was the education outreach program. This was highly valued by the GPs and following the program there was a reduction in prescribing of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. The experience gained offers an insight into the potentially valuable contribution that hospital pharmacists can make to promote appropriate, safe and effective use of medication.