Definition Of Pharmaceutical Care (PC)

Pharmacy profession have evolve over the years to fit social needs. From apothecary model, compounding model, distribution model, clinical pharmacy model and now pharmaceutical care (PC) model with different phylosophy and practice.

Pharmaceutical care

Definition Of Pharmaceutical Care (PC)

Pharmaceutical care as defined by Hepler and Linda Strand is the responsible provision of drug therapy for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a patient's quality of life. This came from their article ‘Opportunities and responsibilities in pharmaceutical care’ from 1990 and became the ignition and spark pharmaceutical care need to take a stand. Ever since then, different definitions have been use such as the direct, responsible provision of medication-related care for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a patient's quality of life. The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) 1998 statement describes pharmaceutical care as the responsible provision of pharmacotherapy for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a patient's quality of life.

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In 2013, a European organization, the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE), created a new definitiion. They attempt to satisfy the idea description with various expert in mind and countries. They came out with Pharmaceutical Care definition like is the pharmacologist/pharmacist's contribution to the care of individuals in order to optimize medicines use and improve health outcome.

Explanation Of Principal Elements Of Pharmaceutical Care

Looking at all the definition and will see something in common. Pharmaceutical care is providing medication related to individual providing care. The purpose is to achieve a definite outcome of which is to improve the individual quality of life. And it is expected that the pharmacist accept responsibility for this. Let us explain each of these elements in pharmaceutical care definition.

Medication Related

Treatment of an individual is more complex than just giving out medication. The judgement to withdraw a drug or change is part of pharmaceutical care. Decisions not to use medication therapy as well as judgments about medication selection, dosages, routes and methods of administration, medication therapy monitoring, and the provision of medication-related information and counseling to individual patients are very important when pharmaceutical care is concern.

Care

Care is very important in pharmaceutical care. It improves achieving treatment goal. A one-to-one professional relationship between a pharmacist and a patient is an iredicible o e that must be there. The patient must feel that care coming from the lhawxist in medication decision.

Outcomes (Goal)

Pharmaceuctical care aim is to improve the individual quality of life through professional decision with contribution from.other health professionals. The outcomes are curing a disease, eliminating or reducing symptoms, arresting or slowing a disease process, and preventing a disease or symptoms. This, in turn, involves three major functions:

1) identifying potential and actual medication-related problems

2) resolving actual medication-related problems, and

3) preventing potential medication-related problems.

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Quality Of Life

After medication related intervention, test for outcome. There are tools to test for objective. Also, the individual also has to make a subjective assessment.

Responsibility

In pharmaceutical care, the direct relationship between an individual pharmacist and an individual patient is that of a professional covenant in which the patient’s safety and well-being are entrusted to the pharmacist, who commits to honoring that trust through competent professional actions that are in the patient’s best interest. As an accountable member of the health-care team, the pharmacist must document the care provided.