National recognition for Alfred Health pharmacist
Research that has resulted in pharmacists and junior doctors working more collaboratively to improve medication safety for patients leaving hospital has been recognised with a national award from the Medical Journal of Australia.
Pharmacist Erica Tong and her team won the National Prize for Excellence in Medical Research for their clinical research article: “Reducing medication errors in hospital discharge summaries: a randomised controlled trial.”
The research found that when pharmacists complete the medication management plans in the discharge summary, the number of medication errors is significantly reduced.
Following Ms Tong’s findings, Alfred Health has made it routine for junior doctors, who usually complete discharge summaries, to work collaboratively with pharmacists. It is now a standard of care for pharmacists to complete the medication plan.
“It’s exciting, it’s good to see that the research has resulted in a change for positive patient care,” Ms Tong said.
“It’s a standard of care across 90% of Alfred Health, not just in general medicine. The practice has been rolled out across the board, including at Caulfield and Sandringham, so lots of patients are benefiting.”
