Discharge Counselling in Hospital Pharmacies

Discharge Counselling

• Discharge counselling is a system that provides medication counselling to patients discharged from a hospital.
• The pharmacist reviews the patient's regimen, fills prescriptions, and counsels the patient at the bedside.

Goals of Discharge Counselling

• Help patients understand the role of medication in their recovery process
• Improve medication adherence
• Maintain sustained illness remission
• Inform patients about possible side effects and their management
• Achieve long-term treatment success and positive outcomes

Principles of Patient Counselling

• Principles of patient counselling are the same in both hospital and community settings
• Not all patients can be counselled, so prioritise patients who need it most

Counselling Area and Time

• Counselling should take place in a quiet area with no distractions or interruptions
• Allow sufficient time for all points to be made and questions answered

Advantages of Counselling in Hospitals

• Access to patient's notes and medical history
• Doctors and nursing staff involved in the patient's care are available
• Indications for drugs are known, including reasons for selection and patient's response
• Avoid duplication of unnecessary information and reinforce important points
• Repeated sessions can be organized if needed

Plan for Counselling

• Plan counselling timing well before the date of discharge
• Obtain all medication prior to discharge to avoid last-minute rush

Patient Counselling Checklist

• Disease state and what brought the patient to hospital
• Name and appearance of drugs, including generic and trade names
• How to use the medication, including inhaler technique and cream/ointment application
• When to take the medication, relating to daily routine
• How long to use the medication, including antibiotics and long-term medications
• Common side effects and how to manage them
• Anything to avoid, such as certain drinks or foods
• What to do if a dose is missed and whether dosage can be altered safely without consulting a doctor
• Storage instructions for medications, including refrigeration and GTN tablets

Confirming Understanding

• Use open questions to confirm patient understanding
• Ask patient to explain how long they will take their medication
• Give patient an opportunity to ask questions
• Discuss any problems they may encounter

Benefits of Discharge Counselling

• Reduces 30-day rapid readmission by 35-50%
• Encourages medication adherence in the initial acute phase of treatment
• Gives patients the opportunity to be treated in a less intrusive outpatient setting
• Improves patient quality of life and increases hospital bed availability

A quiz about discharge counselling, a system that provides medication counselling to hospital patients after discharge, reviewing their regimen and advising on medication adherence and side effects.