Medical devices in community pharmacy practice

Abstract

Pharmacists are highly qualified professionals who have good interpersonal skills and are easily accessible placing them in a perfect position to provide point-of-care testing when it is required. They have an essential role in serving community needs for medical devices, since pharmacists have the necessary knowledge and skills to counsel patients and ensure proper use of point of care testing devices to reduce harm and achieve intended outcomes. The study aimed to improve patient-centred care by capturing the availability of medical devices dispensed and used in a community pharmacy setting with two main outcomes namely the identification and categorization of medical devices in a community pharmacy and the development and validation of Standard Operating Procedures for point of care tests performed in a community pharmacy. The study was set in one community pharmacy. The study design encompassed four distinct yet interconnected steps. Initially, an exploration was conducted to assess the availability of medical devices within the study setting. Subsequently, a comprehensive list of medical devices available was compiled. Categorization of different types of medical devices was undertaken to facilitate analysis. Standard Operating Procedures tailored for Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) were developed based on focused group discussions with six pharmacists attending the community pharmacy where the study was being conducted. These SOPs were then validated by the clinical pharmacist in charge of clinical services at the study setting. A total of 108 medical devices were identified in the study setting. A total of 8 Standard Operating Procedures were developed and validated. This study underscores the important role of pharmacists as integral members of the community healthcare system, uniquely positioned to enhance patient-centred care through proficient utilization of medical devices. By identifying, categorizing, and developing tailored SOPs for point-of-care testing within community pharmacies, this research enhances the knowledge and practice of medical device management which help pharmacists to ensure the safe and effective use of these essential tools in a field of pharmacy which is rapidly evolving, and which is nowadays more robustly regulated to ensure patient safety.