Medication management of COVID-19 patients during transition to virtual models of care: a qualitative study

Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice

Research

H. Laetitia Hattingh¹  Catherine Edmunds²  Brigid M. Gillespie³ 

[1] Allied Health Research, Gold Coast Health, 4215, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia;School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, 4222, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia;School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, 4102, Brisbane, QLD, Australia;Medical Services, Clinical Governance and Research, Gold Coast Health, 4215, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia;NHMRC Wiser Wounds CRE, MHIQ, Griffith University, 4222, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia;Nursing and Midwifery Education and Research Unit, Gold Coast Health, 4215, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia;

关键词: Virtual ward;    Medication management;    Patient safety;    COVID-19 model of care;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40545-023-00633-1

 received in 2023-06-20, accepted in 2023-10-12,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionExpansion of hospital service models was one of the strategies implemented to manage the COVID-19 pandemic through virtual models of care. COVID-19 patients were hospital inpatients transferred to virtual wards and managed outside the hospital. Pharmacists had to provide distance medication management and support services. Virtual care patient support incorporated telehealth consultations by doctors, pharmacists and nurses. This study explored hospital clinicians’ experiences and perspectives on medication management and safety issues of the COVID-19 patients transferred from inpatient units (IPUs) to virtual models of care at the time of transfer.MethodsSemi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with purposively selected doctors, pharmacists and nurses involved in the management of COVID-19 patients in a virtual model of care (home or hotel). Clinicians were interviewed face-to-face or via MS Teams between March and May 2022. An interview schedule included 13 questions and prompts to explore perceptions of medication management and safety aspects.ResultsTwenty clinicians were interviewed: six doctors, seven pharmacists, and seven nurses. The average interview time was 26 min (SD: 4.7; range 21–39). Four major medication management and safety themes emerged from the data: (1) complexities involved in efficient handover between IPU and virtual models of care; (2) lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities between hospital and primary care clinicians; (3) communication challenges when pharmacists work remotely; and (4) proactive management of specific medication safety risks. A common thread throughout the themes was concerns for potential impact on patient safety.ConclusionOverall, clinicians were supportive of the virtual models although patient safety issues were raised that need to be addressed in the development of future services. The results from this study may inform improvements in medication safety implementation of future virtual models of care.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Dr. Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar and Auckland UniServices Ltd. 2023