The European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP)
Hospital pharmacists across Europe share common challenges that are getting in the way of them being able to deliver best practice, according to the results of a survey conducted by the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP).
Pharmacists who responded to the survey say they have difficulty entering a patient’s medicines history into their notes when they are admitted to hospital and also have problems transferring the updated information when a patient moves between different healthcare settings.
The survey involved hospital pharmacists from 34 countries and was organised to test which of the EAHP’s 44 European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy — setting out what hospital pharmacy should be achieving — were proving the most challenging to introduce.
Alongside problems with updating patients’ notes on hospital admission and transfer, European hospital pharmacists also report difficulties working as part of a multidisciplinary team, publishing pharmacy research and having medicine-use processes that are externally assessed and accredited.
But they also reveal three areas of work that are proving easier to introduce: having a clear process for the procurement of medicines, being given the opportunity to take part in educational events, and having responsibility for pharmacy logistics.
“When hospital pharmacists, patients, nurses and doctors created the European Statements of Hospital Pharmacy we knew these were challenging, but much needed, targets,” says EAHP president Joan Peppard.
“These survey results now show which statements are most challenging. Achieving improvement in respect to hospital pharmacist access to the patient medical record, and the pharmacist’s ability to contribute to transfer of patient information between settings, requires system improvement.”
The EAHP represents national hospital pharmacist associations from 34 different countries in Europe.
