Pharmacies play a key role in the health care of individuals no matter where they are located. They offer specialized services for people at home, in hospitals, and care facilities, including transitional care units. Even though patients typically stay in these units for a short period of time, these units can benefit from partnerships with pharmacies offering specialized services. There are a lot of challenges transitional care units face, especially when dealing with patent medication.
Below, we’ll outline 5 important reasons why transitional care units can benefit from specialized pharmacy services.
1. Assist in an effective transition to the care unit
When patients enter transitional care units, developing an understanding of potential medical needs is a key part of their care. Pharmacies can play an active role in the process of fulfilling medication and prescription requests to ensure people receive the medication they need when they need it, and at the right dosage. Building a strong relationship with a pharmacy allows them to better serve your unit’s needs, improving the overall quality of care.
2. Reduce chances of readmittance
Ineffective transitions of care are a significant expense for the healthcare industry. The quality of care a patient receives in transitional units can have an impact on their need to return in the future. Having access to specialized pharmacy services can help these units gain better access to medication requirements for patients, leading to better overall care. This can help to make transitional care more efficient and cost-effective. It can ensure people get access to the right meds, at the right dosage and when they need them.
3. Simplicity in customizing care for patients
Ensuring patients receive personalized care is an essential part of their successful stay in transitional care units. Not two people have the same care requirements. When transitional units have a strong partnership with a local pharmacy, they will have greater access to the resource they need to provide better care to every individual who comes through their facility.
4. Patient safety
Patient safety is of the utmost importance. Ensuring patients receive the right medication is a big part of this and pharmacies can play a big role in this. As argued by Andrea C Backes in Transitional Care Units: Expanding the Role of Pharmacists Providing Patient Care, “Pharmacist-driven medication reconciliation and review can improve medication safety across transitions of care involving TCUs.”
5. Transitioning patients back to the community
Specialized services from pharmacies can help transitional care units ensure they set up patients for success as they get ready to exit care and move back into the community. Pharmacies can play a role in helping to educate patients about the medication they require at home. They can also help supply people with assistive devices and other healthcare resources to continue to recover at home.
