Table 4 Activities of on-site pharmacists in RACFs
From: The role of on-site pharmacist in residential aged care facilities: findings from the PiRACF study
Activity | Activity subcategories | Frequency (%)* |
|---|---|---|
Clinical audits | Type of clinical audit: | |
Psychotropics | 60 (24.4) | |
Medication chart audit | 36 (14.6) | |
PIMs | 33 (13.4) | |
Medication management including administration | 19 (7.7) | |
Opioids | 19 (7.7) | |
Medications requiring monitoring | 14 (5.7) | |
Medications prescribed on a PRN basis | 9 (3.7) | |
Anticoagulants | 8 (3.3) | |
Residents at high risk of hospitalisation | 7 (2.9) | |
Antimicrobials | 6 (2.4) | |
Other | 35 (14.2) | |
Communication | Who pharmacists communicated with: | |
RACF staff | 462 (35.7) | |
GP (including doctors’ rounds) | 206 (15.9) | |
Community pharmacy | 201 (15.5) | |
Resident | 131 (10.1) | |
Resident’s family | 74 (5.7) | |
Nurse practitioner | 47 (3.6) | |
Staff at GP reception | 20 (1.5) | |
Research staff | 18 (1.4) | |
Hospital pharmacy | 1 (0.1) | |
Other | 135 (10.4) | |
Type of communication used: | ||
In person | (54.3) | |
Emails | (22.9) | |
Phone | (11.7) | |
Written communication (i.e. progress notes, communication book) | (3.9) | |
Fax | (1.0) | |
Text message | (0.20) | |
Other | (6.0) | |
Vaccination | Vaccination and related activities: | |
Staff vaccinated | 225 (54.5) | |
Residents vaccinated | 155 (37.5) | |
Other (vaccination-related activities) | 33 (8.0) | |
Education | Education topics: | |
General medication administration (e.g. medication round) | 129 (35.9) | |
Opioids/pain management | 31 (8.6) | |
Psychotropics | 30 (8.4) | |
Specific medical conditions (e.g. dementia/Parkinson’s disease/diabetes) | 30 (8.4) | |
Inhalers/drops/ointments | 18 (5.0) | |
Medication crushing | 16 (4.5) | |
Allergies/side effects/interactions | 12 (3.3) | |
Medication dosing/timing/expiry/discontinuation | 11 (3.1) | |
Medication incidents | 11 (3.1) | |
Cytotoxics | 10 (2.8) | |
Medication storage | 9 (2.5) | |
PRNs | 9 (2.5) | |
Guidelines/policies | 8 (2.2) | |
Staff training topics (e.g. clinical skills) | 8 (2.2) | |
Medication changes | 7 (1.9) | |
Antibiotics | 5 (1.4) | |
Other (e.g. software/supplements/use of personal protective equipment) | 15 (4.2) | |
Quality improvement | Quality improvement activity: | |
Reviewing RACF policies and procedures and attending relevant meeting | 80 (20.2) | |
Ward stock related | 79 (20.0) | |
Medication rounds related | 78 (19.7) | |
Developing policies and procedures | 79 (20.0) | |
Controlled medications (Schedule 8 medicines, i.e. opioids) | 25 (6.3) | |
Reviewing medication incident report | 12 (3.0) | |
Other | 44 (11.1) | |
COVID-19-related | COVID-19-related activities: | |
Vaccination rollout | 17 (27.0) | |
Vaccination information (e.g. adverse effects) | 12 (19.0) | |
Administration of vaccination records (e.g. updating staff COVID vaccination list) | 12 (19.0) | |
Infection control/outbreak management | 9 (14.3) | |
COVID administration for facility entry (e.g. risk entry forms) | 6 (9.5) | |
Staff training/meeting | 5 (7.9) | |
COVID care (e.g. counselling resident on impacts of lockdown on mental health) | 2 (3.2) | |
Administrative tasks related to medication management | Administrative tasks related to medication management Medication: | |
Clinical administration (e.g. S8 count, recording and destruction, MAC meeting, etc.) | 520 (62.4) | |
Study-related administration (e.g. meeting with study team, online diary) | 301 (36.1) | |
Other Admin (e.g. progress notes) | 13 (1.6) | |
Other | Other activities: | |
Other activities (e.g. fire safety training, signing statutory declarations) | 11 (100%) |