The PRSB has published the first part of a new standard outlining the information that needs to be shared between community pharmacies and GP practices.
The number of people living with long-term conditions is increasing, and community pharmacies play an essential role in providing services to patients to keep them well in the community. This includes offering vaccinations, medication and appliance reviews, and support with minor illnesses.
PRSB said “It’s essential that the information about care provided in community pharmacies is recorded in digital care records which can then be shared with GPs and other professionals in a timely manner.”
The new standards hope by improving data sharing between community pharmacies and GP practices it supports a reduction in medication errors, improve patient safety and reduce administrative work for busy staff with the eventual elimination of paper templates.
Stephen Goundrey-Smith, PRSB advisory board member for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and one of the clinical leads on the project, said: “As pharmacy services expand further, it will become increasingly important for pharmacists to share vital information about patient care with GPs. By doing this digitally, we can ensure that care professionals have timely access to relevant information, leading to better, safer and more personalised care. This sharing of data will also demonstrate the value of pharmacists’ professional input into patient care.”
PRSB is also working on the second stage of the standard, to be released in Spring 2019. It will cover:
- Medication Reviews
- Appliance Use Review
- New Medicine Services
- Digital Minor Illness Referral Scheme
- Hospital discharge summaries to community pharmacy
