Authors (including presenting author) :
Hung SS(1), Fong TS(2), Chung YSA(3), Kam KW(3), Chan WYM(2), Mak CK(2), Chong CH(1), Lo CH(1), Mak LKK(1)(2)(3)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Pharmacy, United Christian Hospital(UCH), (2)Department of Pharmacy, Tseung Kwan O Hospital(TKOH), (3)Department of Pharmacy, Haven of Hope Hospital(HHH)
Introduction :
Kowloon East Cluster(KEC) Ward Pharmacists(WP) are a recognised team of pharmacists working alongside other healthcare professionals, providing patient-centred care at different stages of hospital stay and serving patients of all ages. Since the 1990s, our team has utilised available resources to offer diversified services.
Objectives :
To enhance pharmaceutical care and medication safety, relieve workload of healthcare professionals, improve service quality and patient empowerment with ward pharmacist service(WPS).
Methodology :
Paediatric WPS was initiated in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(ICU) and Special Care Baby Unit at UCH in 1998 to review medication orders and assist with total parenteral nutrition prescription before extension to paediatric ICU and general paediatric wards in UCH and TKOH with medication safety rounds since 2013.
WP first joined UCH Surgical Nutrition Support Team in 2009 to optimise parenteral nutrition and enhance biochemical laboratory monitoring. Service was later extended to urology ward in 2011 to provide medication reconciliation during transitions of care and ensure effective perioperative management.
After UCH renal ward round was piloted in 2011, medical WPS was launched in UCH Emergency Medicine Ward and TKOH medical wards in 2018, supporting patient admission and improving discharge efficiency with subsequent expansion to nine acute medical wards in KEC.
Infirmary Ward Case Conference was started at HHH in 2016 to optimise medication use, nutrition and wound condition. Rehabilitation WPS was later established in 2020 to enhance medication review and monitoring among longer-stay patients.
Result & Outcome :
KEC WP reviewed 60,867 cases and provided 13,836 counselling sessions in 2023. There were 10,068 interventions with 97.9% acceptance rate.
Going beyond the traditional pharmacy setting, KEC WP have offered ward services ranging from acute to specialized care in rehabilitation unit. We have also established several innovative ward-based services. On-site verification of IPMOE orders expedited urgent handling and medication administration. Advanced prescription service improved discharge medication accuracy and alleviated physicians’ workload. Fast-track discharge prescription handling reduced patients’ waiting time and garnered KEC SPOT Award 2024.
KEC WP team has developed a wide array of services and gained recognition with positive satisfaction survey results, patients’ appreciation letters, journal publications and awards.
