Home care centre is an emerging concept in the western countries and it is indeed proving to be beneficial.
But what necessitates its need in our country? The answer to this is low rate of patient compliance which is a major problem since many years. Though in all possible ways pharmacists provides counselling to patients whenever required … but that is not enough!
Hence, here the home care centres can change the current scenario.
These types of centres are formed by local pharmacists in the particular area and also it involves other healthcare professionals like MD’s, expert physicians, nurses, caretakers similar to that in a hospital, and like this many other can be formed in different areas of the city.
This committee interacts and facilitates exchange of information within the committee regarding different cases/reports/incidents observed, and seek opinions form physicians to obtain wider perspective to a certain problem. Also provide any drug related information through online portal.
This portal also helps in reporting, learning and discussing various ADR’s/ reports /information and is linked to other centres which helps other pharmacists in updating knowledge and identifying similar side effects.
In our country, it is useful for paediatric as well as geriatric patients to contact them if they may not be able to visit the pharmacy personally. The pharmacist, on appointment may visit their home whenever the patient requires. How convenient is that!
In this visit, the pharmacist would check the prescription, running/past medications, medication history, basic tests like BP/ pulse rate, dosage regimen, diet plan etc. Any queries regarding the medicine are cleared to the patient till they understand and explain all medications in detail.
The corrections and recommendations are made only with discussion in unbiased manner with the concerned physician and revived prescription is handed over to the patient. Well the job doesn’t end up here?! .. the pharmacist has to take a follow-up on the patient’s dosage regimen, any side effects observes are to be noted . For those who may require more attentive care a nurse/ caretaker can be appointed from committee at the patient’s home with nominal charges…this would prevent discrepancies in dosing and accurate reports can be made.
Such centres will certainly be a boon to healthcare and incorporate patients and community’s trust on healthcare system resulting in higher patient compliance.
Key to make this work is effective communication and with expertise of pharmacy and we build a trustworthy, reliable relation with the patient!
A pharmacists is still today perceived as ‘ Drug dispenser ’ and we can change this picture … so let’s all encourage each other to use such best ways and implement them effectively and be not only dispenser but be a “Pharmaceutical Care Provider ” .
Sayali Sheth
M.Pharm Student
AISSMS College of Pharmacy
Department: Quality Assurance and Technique
sayalisheth35@gmail.com