SA trial another step forward for pharmacist-led prescribing
Wed 12 July 2023

SA trial another step forward for pharmacist-led prescribing

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) has welcomed South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton MP’s announcement of a landmark trial at Lyell McEwin Hospital where hospital pharmacists will be authorised to prescribe medicines as part of care teams.

SHPA President Tom Simpson says the trial is another big step forward for pharmacist-led collaborative care in Australia, with the partnered prescribing model proven to be ten times safer for patients, who spend 10% less time in hospital as a result.

‘On behalf of hospital pharmacists I congratulate and welcome Minister Picton’s announcement on the Partnered Pharmacist Medication Prescribing (PPMP) trial at Lyell McEwin Hospital.

‘I also acknowledge and congratulate the SA Pharmacy team for their dedication to this growing initiative, which began when Partnered Pharmacist Medication Charting (PPMC) was introduced two years ago in South Australia during a period of challenging hospital capacity pressures.

‘With the support of our medical colleagues, PPMC expanded scope of practice for hospital pharmacists amid urgent need for greater hospital capacity and improved bed flow to mitigate the impacts of ambulance ramping.

‘While the 2021 PPMC initiative required doctors to authorise medication charts after they were filled out by a credentialled hospital pharmacist, the new Partnered Pharmacist Medication Prescribing (PPMP) trial will see credentialled hospital pharmacists authorising medication charts.’

Mr Simpson says research shows pharmacist-led prescribing leads to benefits in both patient safety and health system efficiency.

‘A growing body of research and economic evaluation shows initiatives in which hospital pharmacists prescribe medicines in a partnered model with doctors leads to safer hospital care by significantly reducing prescribing errors.

‘The care model also reduces the length of hospital admission by 10%, ensuring patients are not stuck in emergency departments or overflow areas for too long waiting for a bed.

‘Harnessing hospital pharmacists’ specialty skills to optimise each patient’s medicines is a win-win in a sector that is battling workforce shortages, by freeing up more time for supporting doctors to dedicate to patient-facing care.’

Recently, the NSW Government Response to the Inquiry into the impact of ambulance ramping and access block on the operation of hospital emergency departments in New South Wales supported the recommendation that NSW hospitals consider the implementation of Partnered Pharmacist Medication Charting in emergency departments.

Mr Simpson says our hospitals are both the origin and future of pharmacist-led prescribing in Australia.

‘Hospital pharmacist prescribing programs have been in Australia for more than 10 years, with a majority of Australian jurisdictions either supporting or in the process of implementing them in public hospitals.

‘This natural expansion in scope of practice is necessary to ensure we provide the safest and highest quality care to all inpatients, given the use of medicines is the most common healthcare intervention.

‘We look forward to inputting these benefits to patient safety, quality of care and healthcare system efficiency into the upcoming National Scope of Practice Review, and working with the Commonwealth toward nationally consistent approaches to pharmacist-led initiatives that make hospital care safer.’