[Dispensing Service: An Essential Service Provided by Community Pharmacy to Enhance Patient Safety. A Case Study]. / Servicio de Dispensación: un servicio esencial brindado desde la Farmacia Comunitaria que permite reforzar la Seguridad del Paciente. A propósito de un caso.

A 38-year-old patient diagnosed with asthma and anxiety, who takes two medications (salbutamol 100 mcg inhaler (2 puffs every 6 hours), and diazepam 5 mg (0-0-1), visited the Community Pharmacy to pick up a treatment prescribed by the Primary Care Physician (PCP) following a diagnosis of anxious-depressive symptoms.During the Dispensing Service, a potential Drug-Related Problem (DRP) of prescription error is detected, which could be related with a Negative Outcomes Releated to Medicines (NOM) due to the concurrent use of desvenlafaxine and mirtazapine. Additionally, a Health Problem (HP)-related DRP was detected, as the proposal to discontinue the use of diazepam could result in an Insufficiently Treated HP, potentially leading to a NOM of Treatment Necessity due to the risk of worsening anxiety episodes.From de Community Pharmacy, a report was prepared with recommendations that were accepted by the PCP. Subsequent case monitoring revealed an improved management of the patient's health problems, as well as the resolution of the identified DRP and NOM. This ensured a rational, safe, and effective use of the medication.

A Qualitative Approach to Exploring Workflow and Cost Factors of Dispensing Services in Community Pharmacies in Taiwan.

Purpose: This study aimed to thoroughly document the process and cost factors involved in dispensing services within a community pharmacy. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, this study incorporated a pragmatic and descriptive qualitative approach to outline pharmacists' viewpoints on providing dispensing services in community settings. A purposive sampling was employed to recruit pharmacists from geographically different community pharmacies, spanning from March to July 2022. Semi-structured interviews with direct content analysis were conducted through face-to-face interactions to gather firsthand insights into pharmacists' professional dispensing services. The data underwent analysis through descriptive and in vivo coding techniques to categorize, define, and label themes, thereby identifying key steps and cost components in the prescription dispensing process. The qualitative data management software, MAXQDA 2020, was utilized for data management and maintenance. Results: Ten community pharmacists participated in the study, cooperatively completing the interview process. Of these, 7 were male and 3 were female, with age ranging from 29 to 62 years. The average length of pharmacy practice experience was 11.4 years. The study revealed six integral steps in the dispensing process: (1) receiving and clarifying legality and completeness of prescriptions, (2) profiling and verifying patient prescriptions, (3) preparing prescription labels and containers, (4) dispensing right medications with right quantity, (5) inspecting dispensing accuracy, (6) handing over medications and providing counseling. Along with these processes, pharmacists emphasized that pharmacy manpower, representing a substantial portion of the associated costs, determines the success and quality of the dispensing service. Additionally, rental, utilities, consumables, and physical equipment were identified as other important cost factors associated with carrying out pharmacy dispensing services. Conclusion: The study offers a comprehensive understanding of the dispensing service workflow within community pharmacies. The findings may inform key stakeholders and policymakers about required resources for enhancing and sustaining quality dispensing services for the public in Taiwan.

[Patient safety during the dispensing service in community pharmacies in the event of a prescribing error. A case report]. / Seguridad del paciente durante el servicio de dispensación en farmacia comunitaria ante un error de prescripción. A propósito de un caso.

A 63-year-old patient, diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, with myocardial infarction background who takes 9 different medications. She goes to the Community Pharmacy (CP) to pick up the prescribed treatment from the Emergency Department to treat a diagnosed conjunctivitis.During the Dispensing Service, a potential Drug-Related Problem (DRP) of prescription error is detected, which could be related with a Negative Outcomes Related to Medicines (NOM) when prescribing ear drops for ophthalmic use, compromising patient safety .The patient was referred to the Emergency Department to modify the treatment due to a potential risk, following the indications of the Summary of products Characteristics (SmPC). In the Emergency Department, the proposed intervention was rejected and the patient was sent back to withdraw the drug again to the CP. The patient decides to wait two days for a face-to-face medical appointment with her Primary Care Physician (MAP). The proposal made by the FC was accepted by the General Practitioner (GP).Follow-up of the case is carried out, which allows verifying the resolution of the Health Problem as well as the DRP and NRM detected, achieving an improvement in the patient's health and thus guaranteeing rational, safe and effective use of the medication.