An evaluation of the utilisation of the Medication Action Plan form in a tertiary hospital: what is the impact of the pharmacist?

Abstract Background The Medication Action Plan ( MAP ) form was introduced in Queensland Health to communicate accurate medication histories and interventions between pharmacists and other clinicians. Concerns have been raised about the utilisation of this form at the Princess Alexandra Hospital ( PAH ). Aim To identify how frequently the MAP form was utilised at PAH for documenting medication histories and pharmacists' interventions, and to evaluate category, clinical appropriateness, wording, outcome and significance of the documented interventions. Method One hundred patients were retrospectively audited to identify whether a MAP form was completed. Interventions were categorised according to their significance, wording and clinical appropriateness. Notification and acceptance by the Medical Officer ( MO ) and their documentation in iP harmacy ™ were also evaluated. Results Sixty‐five patients (65%) had a MAP form and 100 interventions were documented on these forms. ‘Proposing change of dose’ was the most frequent type of intervention. The majority of interventions (59%) were low risk. Eighty‐five per cent of interventions were deemed to be clinically appropriate; however, 65% of interventions were considered to be poorly worded. Fifty‐eight per cent had documentation of notification of the MO and 67% were acted on by clinicians mostly (58%) within 24 hours. Only 17% of interventions were documented in iP harmacy ™ . Conclusion Although the MAP form is used by pharmacists for documenting medication histories and interventions, they are often documented using poor wording, and many are not acted on by clinicians. Standards for documenting recommendations on the MAP form and notifying MO s have subsequently been developed.