SHPA urges medication lists
September 8, 2015
Complete and current
medication lists are central to the
safe and optimal use of medicines
for individual patients, according to
a new position statement from the
Society of Hospital Pharmacists of
Australia (SHPA).
The lists need to be maintained,
updated and validated by health
professionals, particularly
pharmacists, whenever a patient’s
medicines are changed, as part
of any medication review and
particularly when the patient
transitions between episodes of
care, the organisation said.
In addition, with the patient’s
consent, a complete and current
medication list should be
included when a patient’s care
is transitioned between health
professionals, between health
service organisations and within
health service organisations.
The Australian Commission on
Safety and Quality in Health Care
supports the SHPA position, saying
that both hard copy and electronic
forms of medication lists need
to include the dose, frequency
and indication for each medicine,
including OTC/CM products, as well
as the route of administration.
The lists are also to include any
information about changes to
therapy, and any medications not
to be taken due to allergies, known
idiosyncratic side effects or risk
factors, said the Commission.
The SHPA said its position
supports “a collaborative model,
underpinned by timely and effective
communication between the health
care team and the patient.
“This includes a ‘virtuous circle’
approach where a readily accessible
complete and current medication
list is always available to support
the evaluation and establish the
basis for changes to a patient’s
medicine treatment,” SHPA added.
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