Variability of pharmaceutical provision to nursing homes from hospital pharmacy services

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the situation and the possible variability of pharmaceutical provision to public nursing homes included in the “Project pilot” from hospital pharmacy services of the Andalusian Health Service. Method: Cross-sectional multicenter study. A questionnaire of 36 questions including: nursing homes characteristics, legislation, pharmacotherapeutic guide and prescription, preparation and transport, dispensation, administration, pharmaceutical activity and healthcare data. Results: We included 13 nursing homes. Everyone had a medicines store. All dispensed in individualized unit dose. Three nursing homes did not have a work space for the pharmacist. The pharmacist did not move to the nursing home in three of them. Conclusions: Although there is some variability in the pharmaceutical provision to nursing homes included in the “Pilot Project”, we have identified strengths such as the dispensing of medicines as unit dose system and opportunities to improve such as the increase of the pharmacist’s presence in nursing homes.

Keywords

• Nursing homes
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Pharmaceutical care
• Hospital pharmacy service
• Pilot project