eMJA: <I>In reply:</I> A Quality Use of Medicines program for continuity of care in therapeutics from hospital to community

Letters

In reply: A Quality Use of Medicines program for continuity of care in therapeutics from hospital to community

Karen I Kaye, Andrea Mant, Linda Kehoe and Wendy C Rotem

MJA 2003 178 (6): 299-300

In reply: Gelb points out that clinical pharmacists can, and in some cases do, provide useful communication to general practitioners following hospitalisation, as well as for their patients in aged care facilities. Regrettably, clinical pharmacists are in short supply, even in teaching hospitals; thus, in practice, their expertise often cannot be fully utilised.1 Attention to this shortage is clearly warranted to safeguard patient care.

We agree that clinical pharmacists (hospital and community based) should be included in the Quality Use of Medicines monitoring and evaluation process. In addition, we urge all healthcare providers to take responsibility for careful and timely communication to ensure continuity of patient care.

Kaye KI, Mant A, Brien JE, Kehoe L. Evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of the Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council (APAC) national guidelines to achieve the continuum of quality use of medicines between hospital and the community. Report to the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. October 2002.

(Received 2 Dec 2002, accepted 23 Jan 2003)

NSW Therapeutic Assessment Group Inc., Sydney, NSW.

Karen I Kaye, BPharm, DipHospPharm, Executive Officer.

Quality Use of Medicines Services, South East Sydney Area Health Service, Darlinghurst, NSW.

Andrea Mant, MD, MA, Adviser.

Total Research, Sydney, NSW.

Linda Kehoe, MSc, Consultant.

Health Services Project Management, Sydney, NSW.

Wendy C Rotem, MA, MHA, Consultant.

Correspondence: Dr A Mant, Quality Use of Medicines Services, South East Sydney Area Health Service, Level 5, 376 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, NSW.

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