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Implementation of a pharmaceutical care practice model for palliative care.

INTRODUCTION Hepler and Strand 1 define Pharmaceutical Care (PC) as the responsible provision of drug therapy for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a patient's quality of life. The pharmacist, as the drug expert, defines patient-specific pharmacotherapeutic outcomes, which are achieved by performing three major functions: identifying, resolving and preventing actual or potential drug-related problems (DRPs). Strand2 defines a DRP as an undesirable event; a patient experience that involves oris suspected to involve drug therapy and actually, or potentially, interferes with a desired patient outcome. The listing of a patient's actual and potential DRPs defines the Pharmaceutical Care activities required for each patient. Saskatoon City Hospital (SCH) is a 295-bed, acute care, teaching facility under the Saskatoon District Health. SCH provides a palliative care service on a consultation basis, receiving an average of200 consultations per year. A team approach is utilized consisting of a physician, nurse manager, social worker, and representatives from spiritual care, therapies, nutrition services and pharmacy. The service is based on a scattered bed model, as no beds are specifically designated to palliative care. The patient is assessed by the palliative care physician, nurse manager and social worker; other team members assess the patient when required. The team meets weekly for sit-down rounds to discuss the care of each patient. All DRPs identified and patient-care recommendations made by pharmacists are documented as a quality assurance measure.