e-Interconsultations between a hospital pharmacy service and primary care pharmacy units in Spain.

PURPOSE: To analyse the profile of consultations made using an electronic platform system (e-Interconsultation) of communication between the hospital pharmacy service and primary care pharmacy units. METHOD: Descriptive and retrospective analysis of the number and type of e-Interconsultations for 3 years in a health area. DATA SOURCE: data mining of the e-Interconsultation platform (Microsoft Sharepoint software). RESULTS: A total of 1152 interconsultations have been made and 90.6% (88.9%-92.4% 95% CI) solved. 477 (41.1%) of them were referrals from hospital care to primary care in addition to 675 (58.6%) from primary to hospital care. The validation of prescriptions and the need for drug monitoring in primary care are among the main reasons for consultation. CONCLUSION: This two-way electronic platform of communication is a good mechanism that collaborates in patients' transit between different healthcare levels because it allows us to facilitate, normalise and document consults, referrals and pharmaceutical interventions between hospital care and primary care. Therefore, it helps us provide better quality pharmaceutical care to our patients.

Implementation of an e-Interconsultation system between a Hospital Pharmacy Service and Primary Care Pharmacy Units in a health area.

PURPOSE: To present the requirements, development, structure and results of an electronic interconsultation platform (e-Interconsultation) for communication between primary and hospital care. METHOD: A working group was created and set out its purposes, working schedule, software requirements, the structure of the electronic platform, validation procedure, and its implementation. Once the software had been developed and validated and training sessions were conducted, the electronicplatform was launched in June 2015. Results: After 1 year of operation, a total of 321 electronic interconsultations had been made, 110 of which were referrals from hospital care to primary care in addition to 211 from primary to hospital care. The validation of prescriptions and the need for drug monitoring in primary care are among main reasons for consultation. CONCLUSIONS: The e-Interconsultation platform is a valid, efficient and user-friendly mean of consultation or patient referrals between both healthcare levels.

Objetivo: Presentar los requisitos, desarrollo, estructura y resultados de una plataforma de e-Interconsulta de comunicación entre farmacéuticos de atención primaria y hospitalaria. Método: Se creó un grupo de trabajo y se definieron los objetivos, el cronograma de trabajo, los requisitos del programa informático, la estructura de la plataforma electrónica, la validación de la misma y la implantación. Tras su desarrollo informático y su validación, se realizaron sesiones formativas y se puso en marcha en junio de 2015.Resultados: Tras un año de funcionamiento, el número total de e-interconsultas realizadas fue de 321, de las cuales 110 fueron derivaciones de atención hospitalaria hacia atención primaria y 211 en el sentido inverso. La homologación sanitaria de recetas y la necesidad de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico en atención primaria, destacan entre las causas motivadas de consulta.Conclusiones: La plataforma e-Interconsulta, es un sistema válido, eficaz y de sencillo manejo para la derivación de consultas o pacientes entre ambos niveles asistenciales.