Activities of community pharmacists in society&Organization of a community pharmacy

Activities of community pharmacists in society

1-Procurement of medicines that are suitable for human consumption.

2- Storage of medicines in appropriate conditions

(temperature, humidity, cleanliness, stock monitoring)

3-Dispensing of medicines chosen by patient or as pharmacist-recommended products or on presentation of a prescription.

4-Compounding and ensuring quality of compounded products.

5-Patient medication review, advise patients on use of medicines and participate in adverse drug reaction reporting.

6-Ensuring rational and safe use of medicines by patients, developing care plans and collaborating with prescribers to establish a therapeutic plan, implement it and monitor patient outcomes.

7-Monitoring of self-care, responding to symptoms and identifying cases warranting referral.

8-Point-of-care testing (POCT): - is defined as any analytical test performed for a patient by a healthcare professional outside a conventional laboratory setting.

 For examples :-

- Blood analysis :- Cholesterol, coagulation, glucose

-Urinalysis :- Pregnancy tests, glucose, red blood cells, leukocytes, nitrites, occurrence of menopause and ovulation prediction

- Faces: - Occult blood

-  Microbiological analysis :- Helicobacter pylori, streptococci

9-Health promotion and promotion of healthy lifestyles (nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation, sexual and reproductive health).

10-Ensuring safe disposal of unwanted or expired medicines.

11- Signposting patients to other healthcare providers and support agencies.

12- Participating in national health service schemes to provide social pharmacy services.

13Other responsibilities: nutritional supplements, special foods (e.g. gluten-free products, food for diabetic people), colostomy care and urinary incontinence devices, disability and mobility aids (e.g. wheelchairs, walking aids),  oxygen supplies and ventilation equipment, veterinary medicines

Organization of a community pharmacy

1-Personnel present: managing pharmacist, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, sales personnel.

Staff management includes :-

-          identifying training needs and providing appropriate training .

-          management to develop a team approach.

-          continuing professional development of professional personnel.

2-Premises: areas available for dispensing, storage of medicines, patient counselling, health promotion.

3-Equipment: dispensing equipment, diagnostic equipment for point-of-care testing (e.g. blood pressure measurement, blood testing, urinalysis).

4-Documentation and information: registers to be kept at the pharmacy, IT-supported systems for documentation of pharmacist actions and for maintaining pharmacy patient profiles, drug information sources (books and electronic access).

Dispensary area

• Area should be spacious and designed in such a way as to promote communication between pharmacist and patient.

• Space should be available for patient advice and counselling in privacy.

• Consultation areas should provide for space to carry out point-of-care testing.

• Adequate facilities for dispensing must be provided – cleanable floor and surfaces, adequate fixtures and fittings, clean refrigerator with appropriate temperature monitoring and control, clean sink, logical layout of stock and a natural workflow.

Storage of medicines

- Sufficient storage space to store medicines in a dry place.

- Temperature control of areas where medicines are stored.

- Prescription-only medicines not accessible to the public.

- Area available to store medicines that require controlled access.

- Stock rotation, monitoring of expiry dates and systems to ensure that medicines are not damaged

-   Pricing.

Legislation

• Pharmacists practicing at the pharmacy are registered with a registering body.

• Process of community pharmacy practice is controlled by legislation.

• Legislation classifies medicines according to:-

1-category of medicines that may be sold from other outlets (such as drugstores) not only pharmacies (e.g. general sales list, in countries where this is permitted)

2- category of medicines that may be sold after being recommended by pharmacists

3-category of medicines that require a prescription

4-  category of medicines that are controlled (e.g. buprenorphine, diamorphine, fentanyl, methadone).

• Pharmacy services must be available for 24 hours, 7 days a week. Rosters   are issued for night-time service and for service on Sundays and public   holidays.