Pharmacy Saves the Day

Case Study: Pharmacy Saves the Day

Ms. Kim is a 34-year-old patient who comes to urgent care for an ear infection. The doctor in urgent care prescribes penicillin, even though the patient states that she is allergic to that antibiotic. The doctor transmits the prescription to Ms. Kim’s local pharmacy, and before she arrives at the pharmacy, the pharmacy technician begins working on the prescription. When the technician enters the prescription in the patient’s record, a flag appears indicating a possible allergy to penicillin. The technician consults with the pharmacist, who agrees there seems to be a potential negative interaction. The pharmacist calls Ms. Kim and explains that she was prescribed penicillin and the system is indicating that she may be allergic to the antibiotic. After she confirms her allergy to penicillin, the pharmacist contacts the doctor in urgent care to provide this information and suggest that a more appropriate antibiotic be prescribed.

Discussion Questions

1. Who are the members of this healthcare team?
2. What Core Competencies and Sub-competencies did the team members demonstrate?
3. Did the team demonstrate interprofessional collaboration? Explain your answer.

1. Healthcare Team Members:
   • Doctor in Urgent Care: Responsible for diagnosing and prescribing medication.
   • Pharmacist: Responsible for dispensing medication, reviewing patient records, and ensuring safe medication use.
   • Pharmacy Technician: Assists the pharmacist in processing prescriptions and handling patient information.
2. Core Competencies and Sub-competencies Demonstrated:
   • Patient-Centered Care:
     • Doctor: Demonstrated patient-centered care by prescribing medication tailored to the patient’s condition.
     • Pharmacist & Technician: Prioritized patient safety by cross-checking the prescription with the patient’s history and reaching out to confirm potential allergic reactions.
   • Interprofessional Communication:
     • Pharmacist & Technician: Demonstrated effective communication by consulting with each other, contacting the patient, and communicating with the doctor about the potential allergy.
   • Professionalism:
     • All Team Members: Acted professionally by prioritizing patient safety over assumptions, confirming information with the patient, and communicating respectfully with each other and the patient.
   • Ethical Decision-Making:
     • Pharmacist: Made an ethical decision by intervening to prevent potential harm, contacting the patient to verify the allergy, and communicating with the doctor for a more suitable prescription.
3. Interprofessional Collaboration:
   • Yes, the team demonstrated interprofessional collaboration by:
     • Consulting each other (pharmacist and technician).
     • Communicating effectively with the patient to gather crucial information.
     • Contacting the doctor to relay vital information and suggest an alternative treatment, ensuring patient safety despite working in different healthcare sectors.

This case study highlights the critical role of interprofessional collaboration and the importance of each team member’s expertise in ensuring patient safety and optimal care.