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Forging an advanced practice role for pharmacists in palliative care
Author(s) -
Tait Paul,
Swetenham Kate
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy practice and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2055-2335
pISSN - 1445-937X
DOI - 10.1002/jppr.1008
Subject(s) - pharmacist , medicine , palliative care , nursing , metropolitan area , service (business) , ambulatory care , quality (philosophy) , health care , family medicine , pharmacy , business , pathology , marketing , economics , economic growth , philosophy , epistemology
The role of the hospice is well established in providing quality care for the dying. With the drive for greater emphasis on community‐based palliative care, there is a need to enable elements (especially medicines management practices) from the inpatient hospice model to be more readily available in the community environment. This paper describes the incorporation of an advanced practice pharmacist into a large metropolitan palliative care service. The focus of this appointment has been to develop strategic engagement with primary care providers to better support medicines management for people registered within a metropolitan palliative care service. Through the development of education programs, participation in quality improvement activities and by supporting the ambulatory palliative care team, the advanced practice pharmacist has engaged the community pharmacist as part of the broader palliative care team. There are challenges and opportunities for pharmacists to assist in providing improved palliative care services delivery within the Australian healthcare system.