scholarly journals Beyond the four walls: an exploratory survey of location, employment and roles of pharmacists in primary health care

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloë Campbell ◽  
Rhiannon Braund ◽  
Caroline Morris
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Patient Outcomes ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Health Care Sector ◽  
Pharmacy Service ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
General Practices

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Recognition of the need to reduce harm and optimise patient outcomes from the use of medicines is contributing to an evolution of pharmacy practice in primary health care internationally. This evolution is changing community pharmacy and leading to new models of care that enable pharmacist contribution beyond traditional realms. There is little information about the extent of these changes in New Zealand. AIM The aim of this study was to investigate emerging roles of pharmacists in primary health care. METHODS A 10-question electronic survey was used to collect quantitative data about location, employment and roles of pharmacists practising in primary health care. RESULTS There were 467 survey responses. Although most pharmacists are employed by (78%, n = 357/458) and located in (84%, n = 393/467) community pharmacies, small numbers are dispersed widely across the primary health care sector. Of the 7% (n = 31/467) working in general practices, most are employed by Primary Health Organisations or District Health Boards. Limited cognitive pharmacy service provision is evident in the sector overall, but is much greater for pharmacists spending time located within general practices. DISCUSSION The large proportion of pharmacists practising in community pharmacies emphasises the importance of the Community Pharmacy Services Agreement in facilitating increased cognitive pharmacy service provision to optimise patient outcomes. The small numbers of pharmacists located elsewhere in the primary health care sector suggest there is scope to improve collaboration and integration in these areas. Flexible funding models that promote innovation and support sustainable practice change are key.

scholarly journals Primary health care policy and vision for community pharmacy and pharmacists in Estonia

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 2404
Author(s):  
Kristiina Sepp ◽  
Anita Tuula ◽  
Veera Bobrova ◽  
Daisy Volmer
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Professional Staff ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
Primary Health Care System ◽  
Pharmacy Services ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Care System

Estonia, with a population of 1.3 million, is the smallest country in the three Baltic States. As a post-soviet country, Estonia over the past 30 years has built up a new health care system, including the pharmaceutical sector. The GDP allocated to cover health care costs is significantly lower in Estonia compared to the EU average. Despite this, Estonia has excelled in the development of digital e-services in healthcare at both the domestic and international levels. The development and integration of the Estonian community pharmacy sector into primary health care has been influenced and affected by the liberalization within pharmaceutical policy and the lack of cooperation with the rest of the health care sector. Community pharmacy ownership and location matters have been prevalent. The promotion of the pharmacy services has mostly taken place on the basis of a professional initiative, as cooperation with the state has not been active. Possibly the professional fragmentation of the pharmacy sector may have played a negative role. The community pharmacy network in Estonia, especially in cities, enables fast and convenient access to the pharmacy services. Community Pharmacy Service Quality Guidelines support the harmonization of the provided services and patient-centered concept to enhance the patient role and involvement in their care. In recent years, community pharmacies in Estonia have also offered various extended services that are more or less integrated with the primary health care system. New developments may be affected by frequent changes in legislation and a shortage of professional staff in community pharmacies. The ownership reform of pharmacies in 2020 has so far not had a significant impact on the operation of pharmacies or the quality of services provided.

scholarly journals Primary health care policy and vision for community pharmacy and pharmacists in Spain

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Gastelurrutia ◽  
Maria J. Faus ◽  
Fernando Martinez-Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
The State ◽  
Community Pharmacies ◽  
State Health ◽  
Primary Health

From a political and governance perspective Spain is a decentralized country with 17 states [comunidades autónomas] resulting in a governmental structure similar to a federal state. The various state regional health services organizational and management structures are focused on caring for acute illnesses and are dominated by hospitals and technology. In a review by the Interstate Council, a body for intercommunication and cooperation between the state health care services and national government, there is a move to improve health care through an integrative approach between specialized care and primary care at the state level. Community pharmacy does not appear to have a major role in this review. Primary health care is becoming more important and leading the change to improve the roles of the health care teams. Primary care pharmacists as the rest of public health professionals are employed by the respective states and are considered public servants. Total health care expenditure is 9.0% of its GDP with the public health sector accounting for the 71% and the private sector 29% of this expenditure. Community pharmacy contracts with each state health administration for the supply and dispensing of medicines and a very limited number of services. There are approximately 22,000 community pharmacies and 52,000 community pharmacists for a population of 47 million people. All community pharmacies are privately owned with only pharmacists owning a single pharmacy. Pharmacy chain stores are not legally permitted. Community pharmacy practice is based on dispensing of medications and dealing with consumer minor symptoms and requests for nonprescription medications although extensive philosophical deep debates on the conceptual and practical development of new clinical services have resulted in national consensually agreed classifications, definitions and protocolized services. There are a few remunerated services in Spain and these are funded at state, provincial or municipal level. There are no health services approved or funded at a national level. Although the profession promulgates a patient orientated community pharmacy it appears to be reluctant to advocate for a change in the remuneration model. The profession as a whole should reflect on the role of community pharmacy and advocate for a change to practice that is patient orientated alongside the maintenance of its stance on being a medication supplier. The future strategic position of community pharmacy in Spain as a primary health care partner with government would then be enhanced.

scholarly journals Incorrect condom programming in the primary health care setting: “A prescription for a disaster”?

Curationis ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. De Wet ◽  
L. Ackermann ◽  
A. Crichton
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Health Care Sector ◽  
Free State ◽  
Primary Health Care Setting ◽  
Condom Usage ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Care Workers

In the effort to stem the HIV pandemic, the promotion of the correct and consistent use of condoms has to be a priority in the primary health care sector. This study, concentrating on the southern Free State, sought to identify obstacles to condom usage and to develop strategies to encourage condom usage. Both primary health care workers and their clients served as respondents in the study.

scholarly journals Primary health care policy and vision for community pharmacy and pharmacists in Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 1967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Dineen-Griffin ◽  
Shalom I. Benrimoj ◽  
Victoria Garcia-Cardenas
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Australian Government ◽  
Primary Health

There is evidence that the Australian Government is embracing a more integrated approach to health, with implementation of initiatives like primary health networks (PHNs) and the Government’s Health Care Homes program. However, integration of community pharmacy into primary health care faces challenges, including the lack of realistic integration in PHNs, and in service and remuneration models from government. Ideally, coordinated multidisciplinary teams working collaboratively in the community setting are needed, where expanding skills are embraced rather than resisted. It appears that community pharmacy is not sufficiently represented at a local level. Current service remuneration models encourage a volume approach. While more complex services and clinical roles, with associated remuneration structures (such as, accredited pharmacists, pharmacists embedded in general practice and residential aged care facilities) promote follow up, collaboration and integration into primary health care, they potentially marginalize community pharmacies. Community pharmacists’ roles have evolved and are being recognized as the medication management experts of the health care team at a less complex level with the delivery of MedChecks, clinical interventions and medication adherence services. More recently, vaccination services have greatly expanded through community pharmacy. Policy documents from professional bodies highlight the need to extend pharmacy services and enhance integration within primary care. The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Pharmacists in 2023 report envisages pharmacists practising to full scope, driving greater efficiencies in the health system. The Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s future vision identifies community pharmacy as health hubs facilitating the provision of cost-effective and integrated health care services to patients. In 2019, the Australian Government announced the development of a Primary Health Care 10-Year Plan which will guide resource allocation for primary health care in Australia. At the same time, the Government has committed to conclude negotiations on the 7th Community Pharmacy Agreement (7CPA) with a focus on allowing pharmacists to practice to full scope and pledges to strengthen the role of primary care by better supporting pharmacists as primary health care providers. The 7CPA and the Government’s 10-year plan will largely shape the practice and viability of community pharmacy. It is essential that both provide a philosophical direction and prioritize integration, remuneration and resources which recognize the professional contribution and competencies of community pharmacy and community pharmacists, the financial implications of service roles and the retention of medicines-supply roles.

scholarly journals An Analysis of Service Provision Standards in Primary Health Care Facilities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-327
Author(s):  
Rizwan Khurshid ◽  
Malik Fahim Bashir ◽  
Yasir Bin Tariq
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Provincial Government ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Care Facilities

This study explores the on-ground facilities available at primary healthcare facilities (PHCFs) against the service quality standards set by the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Primary data through a structured questionnaire was collected from 109 PHCFs. Two hundred seven responses from patients, 109 responses from PHCFs doctors and medical staff, and 109 researcher’s observations were recorded. Most service provision standards were met in rural health centres (RHCs) and basic health units (BHUs). However, the situation at civil dispensaries (CDs) was very alarming. Patients preferred RHCs on BHUs and CDs because of relatively better quality services provided in RHCs. However, in general, patients prefer to go to secondary or tertiary health care facilities due to the number of reasons identified by this study. Among the areas which demand quality improvement include cultural constraints, lack of following standard operating procedures (SOPs) for referral, no transport facility to referred patients, higher waiting time for patients, and no or fewer health education sessions, and unavailability of cold chain and waste disposal system. By addressing problem areas identified by this study, the KP government can reduce the patient burden on secondary and tertiary health facilities. As a result, service quality at PHCFs will improve access to primary health care, a world health organization’s millennium development goal, and the united nations’ sustainable development goal.

scholarly journals Reorganizacija službe na primarnem nivoju zdravstvene dejavnosti v času epidemije COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatjana Kitić jaklić ◽  
Jože Prestor ◽  
Matjaž Maletič
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Health Care Sector ◽  
The Past ◽  
Primary Health

The COVID-19 epidemic caused by the SARS-Co-V2 virus has dramatically affected the daily life of society as a whole and almost without exception the functioning of various institutions. The first and hardest have been institutions falling under the health care sector. Over the past several decades, the functioning of health care institutions has retained a more or less type of fragile balance that has been further shaken by the COVID-19 epidemic. This has served to inadevertently reveal some shortcomings in the health care sector. In this article, we outline the reorganization and adaptation of the primary health care sector as seen in the example of the Community Health Centre Kranj. Particulary highlighted are challenges faced within the health care institution as well as examples of good practice that should be maintained in the event of any future infectious disease epidemic outbreaks.

scholarly journals The Nursing Presence in General Practice: Revealing Dimensions of Day-to-day Experience of Practice Nurses in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Katrina Fyers
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Practice Nurses ◽  
Nursing Leaders ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
General Practices

<p>This study makes visible and gives value to the day-to-day experience of practice nurses who work in New Zealand general practices. Nursing leaders internationally and locally have highlighted the importance of the Primary Health Care nurse to improving health outcomes, addressing inequalities and implementing new models of care. As one of the largest groups of Primary Health Care nurses, practice nurses have a significant part to play. There is however, no consensus and limited research related to the day-to-day experience of practice nurses. Therefore, the nature, extent, and contribution of nursing in general practice may be overlooked or misunderstood. Furthermore as an autonomous self-regulating profession, nursing has a responsibility to the public to provide understanding of nursing in the present and in the future, particularly when this relates to the care of families and the structure of health systems. Located within the qualitative research paradigm and utilising a narrative inquiry methodology, this study applies a 'supportive voice' to highlight the experience of five practice nurses, and in the process makes visible the dimensions of nursing work in New Zealand general practices. The five constructed narratives particularly draw attention to the complex nature of nursing work that practice nurses engage in daily, the importance of nurse-patient relationships and continuity of care and the significance of autonomous and specialty aspects of nursing practice. Ultimately, the value of the practice nurse in the day-to-day operation of general practice is brought to the fore.</p>

scholarly journals Community engagement in general practice: a qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 146 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Rowe ◽  
R. Keenan ◽  
L. Lack ◽  
N. Malloy ◽  
R. Strasser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Perceived Benefits ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
General Practices ◽  
Systematic Framework

ABSTRACT BACKGROUNDCommunity engagement is believed to be an important component of quality primary health care. We aimed to capture specific examples of community engagement by general practices, and to understand the barriers that prevent engagement. METHODSWe conducted 20 distinct interviews with 31 key informants from general practice and the wider community. The interviews were semi-structured around key relevant topics and were analysed thematically. RESULTSKey themes identified from the interview transcripts included an understanding of ‘community’, examples of community engagement and the perceived benefits and barriers to community-engaged general practice. We particularly explored aspects of community engagement with Māori. CONCLUSIONSGeneral practices in the study do not think in terms of communities, and they do not have a systematic framework for engagement. Although local champions have generated some great initiatives, most practices seemed to lack a conceptual framework for engagement: who to engage with, how to engage with them, and how to evaluate the results of the engagement.

scholarly journals Surveillance of respiratory pathogens and influenza-like illnesses in general practices - The Netherlands, winter 1997-98

1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 81-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L.A. Heijnen ◽  
J W Dorigo-Zetsma ◽  
A I M Bartelds ◽  
B Wilbrink ◽  
M. J.W Sprenger
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Sentinel Surveillance ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Dutch Population ◽  
Surveillance Network ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
General Practices

The Netherlands Institute of Primary Health Care (NIVEL) has coordinated the activities of a sentinel surveillance network of 43 general practices since 1970. These practices care for 1% of the Dutch population, a sample representative of the national pop

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