Introduction
Incorrectly selected treatment is one of the patients’ most common causes of complications and deaths, leading to the deterioration of the healthcare system’s reputation. The blame for the mistakes is often shifted to the specialist who provided the services. However, in most cases, the problem is the lack of systematized information in the field and quality control by the government. To avoid such mistakes and reduce patient risks, it is necessary to improve the quality of services provided continuously. It, in turn, will help raise the level of citizens’ confidence in the healthcare system as a whole and improve its reputation.
Main body
Now pharmacists are not just drug distributors but are an integral part of the healthcare process. To provide quality services to patients, a pharmacist must have extensive knowledge in various fields of medicine. However, it is often difficult to find a reliable source of information about the effects of a drug, possible side effects, and interactions with other medications. The lack of a systematic knowledge base is one of the most common problems that pharmacy faces. In addition, many new drugs are developed each year, and the pharmacist should be the first to know their effects and uses. However, these processes in the healthcare system are not systematized, often leading to improperly selected treatments and negative consequences for patients.
In addition, databases often store irrelevant and outdated information. The pharmacy field is actively developing, old medicines are re-tested, and new ones appear regularly. Therefore, regular updating of information in pharmaceutical databases could significantly improve the quality of pharmacy work. Although databases for pharmacists exist, it would be reasonable to collect all relevant information in one source that would be used in pharmacies throughout the country. It could significantly improve the quality of services provided and reduce the human factor’s negative impact on drug treatment selection for the patient.
Moreover, many community pharmacies lack data collection and reporting on medication errors, especially for new drugs. Since it is impossible to eliminate the possibility of errors in the selection of drug treatment, this practice is necessary. It will prevent pharmacists from repeating the mistakes already made and significantly reduce the risks for patients. Moreover, Hincapie et al. (2021) believe that the authorities should control this process, particularly the State Boards of Pharmacy. Currently, in many states, SBPs only hold error reporting in hospital pharmacies, while community pharmacies are effectively out of the law. Therefore, SBPs should review and improve the regulations for community pharmacy practice.
Conclusion
Thus, the pharmacy industry needs innovations that will improve the quality of services, reduce risks for patients, and, as a result, improve the reputation of the healthcare system as a whole. In the era of digitalization, having reliable sources of information for pharmacists is necessary to solve the problem of prescribing the wrong treatment, which often has negative consequences for the patient. Therefore, one of the strategies for improving the pharmacy could be the development of a single database with up-to-date information on existing medicines. In particular, this database should contain information about errors and side effects that occur when taking medications. However, the practical introduction of such a system is possible only with the support of the authorities. Therefore, along with the systematization of information, it is necessary to revise some regulations, especially regarding community pharmacies.
Work Cited
Hincapie, A. L., et al. “Continuous quality improvement regulations for community pharmacy practice in the United States.” Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, vol. 61, no. 4, 2021, pp. 470-475. Web.