Title 1. DEFINITIONS, DEVELOPMENT AND SCOPE OF CLINICAL PHARMACY.pdf ✅

PHARMD GURU Page 1 DEFINITIONS: CLINICAL PHARMACY: Clinical pharmacy is defined as; the service provided by the pharmacist, to promote the rational drug therapy that is safe, appropriate and cost-effective. Clinical pharmacists often work in collaboration with physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals. PHARMACEUTICAL CARE: Pharmaceutical care is defined as “the responsible provision of drug therapy for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a patient‟s quality of life”. WARD PHARMACY: It is defined as “the system where a pharmacist visits wards regularly to monitor for completeness & accuracy of prescription, is available for consultation by medical and nursing staff & ensures that the drug distribution system is operating correctly. AIM OF CLINICAL PHARMACY: The aim of the clinical pharmacy is to ensure the patient' maximum well-being and to play a meaningful role in the safe and rational use of drugs. The main goals of clinical pharmacy are: 1) To assist the physician in doing a better job of prescribing and monitoring drug therapy for the patient. 2) To assist medical and para-medical staff and documenting medication incidents correctly. 3) To maximize the patient's compliance in drug use process. QUALITIES OF CLINICAL PHARMACIST: 1) Communication Skill: The clinical pharmacist should have good communication skills, in order to communicate with the patient and co-professionals freely and effectively. DEFINITIONS, DEVELOPMENT AND SCOPE OF CLINICAL PHARMACY
PHARMD GURU Page 2 2) Clinical Skills: The clinical pharmacist should have thorough knowledge about etiology of a disease, signs. symptoms. pathophysiology, laboratory tests, pharmacokinetics, etc. He should be clinically trained for providing information on rational drug use, related drug therapy, and for reviewing drug doses. 3) Professional Relationship: He should be able to understand and appreciate the role of medical and para-medical staff wherever possible. He must accompany physician on medical rounds to assist him by providing drug information. The physician, pharmacists and nurses should develop an inter-professional relationship with each other to enhance the quality of patient care. 4) Empathy: Clinical pharmacist should possess a deep sense of shared responsibility towards medical care of patients. It will help him in taking medication history and gaining patient‟s confidence. 5) Monitoring Drug Therapy: Clinical pharmacist must help in monitoring drug therapy because it is an on-going process and keeps on changing depending upon patient's conditions. DEVELOPMENT OF CLINICAL PHARMACY: 1) The term clinical pharmacy was first used in 1953. 2) In 1960‟s, clinical pharmacy became widely used among pharmacists. 3) Clinical pharmacy as a separate discipline emerges first as „Clinical pharmacology‟. 4) The concept of clinical pharmacology started with two incidents: (a) The thalidomide tragedy in 1962. (b) Phenytoin toxicity in 1968 (in Australia). In the same year i.e. 1968, higher digoxin levels associated with digitalis toxicity (ventricular arrhythmias) were reported in USA, which again was due to use of different formulations. 5) Hence, it was realized that studies must be done to investigate bioavailability, pharmacokinetics & toxicity of different formulations. 6) Hence it was realized that a pharmacist is needed there. 7) A pharmacist has expertise in analytical methods, knowledge about advancement of modern analytical techniques, new drug delivery systems & formulation of drugs.