ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A complete overview on the patient's medication is one precondition for medication safety. For this, a complete and current medication plan (MP) is an appropriate instrument. We aimed to develop and implement software to evaluate and exchange medication plans in local software systems of general practitioners (GPs) and community pharmacies (CPs). Furthermore, it was the aim to evaluate feasibility and acceptance of the defined processes. METHODS: CPs and GPs were involved to pilot the software in several steps. Additionally, they generated and updated MP according to pre-defined processes and responsibilities. Feasibility and acceptance were evaluated in a survey and a workshop. RESULTS: For the first time in Germany, the technical requirements were established to generate and exchange MP electronically. Four software systems of CPs and one software system of GPs were involved. Solved Problems were technical errors, errors relevant for medication safety, differences in display of the medication data, and limited capacity of the barcode on the MP printout. Eleven GP and CP teams recruited 196 patients. 60â% were satisfied with the defined processes. 80â% of the GPs and 63â% of CPs agreed with the defined responsibilities. GPs considered the initial compilation on patient's medication in the CP as useful. The professional exchange between GPs and CPs improved: 70â% of GPs referred to increased knowledge on medication and 88â% of CPs received more information on patients' health conditions. The structured collaboration between GPs and CPs was considered to be important (25â%) or very important (75â%) for the quality of medication plans. DISCUSSION: An electronic MP was successfully implemented for the first time in local software systems. Processes and responsibilities were accepted by both professions. These are important prerequisites for sustainably implementing the MP in daily practice.
