Transitional care in Rheumatoid Disease patient management

Abstract

Patients registered at the Rheumatology outpatient service at Mater Dei are generally reviewed every 6-12 months. Patients collect their chronic medication from their chosen private community pharmacy through the national health service scheme. The purpose of this dissertation was to set up a transitional care service consisting of a transitional care letter and to evaluate feedback from pharmacists regarding this letter. The transitional care letter was developed and validated through an expert panel. Thirteen patients were provided with the letter to be given to their pharmacist at their chosen pharmacy and the managing pharmacist of these pharmacies was contacted within 4 weeks to follow up the letter. Thirty-four community pharmacists provided feedback regarding the Transitional Care Letter. The ‘Rheumatology Transitional Care letter’ developed highlighted treatment changes instituted during the rheumatology outpatient session. The managing pharmacists of the 13 patients reported that the patient did not hand the transition letter. The Pharmacists reviewing the transitional care letter commented that the letter would support pharmacists to identify drug-drug interactions (31), drug monitoring requirements (27), to increase patient involvement (20). Pharmacists (19) also commented that the letter would provide the necessary points on what offer additional information they can provide on their co morbidities. The majority (20) of pharmacists preferred to receive both a hard and a soft copy of the letter. An alternative method to get the letter to the community pharmacists has to be identified. The feedback from the pharmacists encourages the streamlining of this service to overcome the communication barrier between the outpatient setting and the community setting.