What is it about?
The widespread integration of pharmacists in both patient-facing and non-patient-facing roles, clinical pharmacists has the potential to have the impact in three key areas: safety of prescribing; improved health outcomes; and access to primary care through reduction of general practitioner workload.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
There are important implications for training and support for the new general practitioner pharmacist workforce; there will be a need for clarity in their role, with uniformity across areas and practices, and definition of competencies for their new extended activities. Promotion of the role of pharmacists will also be important, among other healthcare professionals as well as the public, to increase awareness and understanding of their expertise
Perspectives
Increasing numbers of pharmacists in primary care will provide useful information, with a clear opportunity for research systematically to assess benefits and impact on safety, quality, and access. The cost-effectiveness of any planned integration of pharmacists into general practice will be crucial, as will evidence about the impact on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
Daoroong Komwong
Sirindhorn College of Public Health Chon Buri, Praboromarajchanok Institute of Health Workforce Development
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Clinical pharmacists in primary care: a safe solution to the workforce crisis?, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, February 2018, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0141076818756618.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
