ABSTRACT
A program to train patients with Cooley's anemia to self-administer deferoxamine via an intermittent infusion pump is described. A pharmacist provides the patient and his family with indepth information on the disease and on deferoxamine dosage, preparation, subcutaneous administration, stability, storage, side effects and precautions. Patients are trained by the pharmacist in aseptic technique and in use and maintenance of the intermittent infusion pump. The patient education program allows patients with Cooley's anemia to receive their daily deferoxamine therapy without the neef for frequent hospitalization.
Subject(s)
Deferoxamine/administration & dosage , Patient Education as Topic , Pharmacy Service, Hospital , Self Administration/education , Thalassemia/drug therapy , Ascorbic Acid/administration & dosage , Ascorbic Acid/therapeutic use , Asepsis/education , Deferoxamine/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Humans , Infusions, Parenteral/education , Infusions, Parenteral/instrumentation , Injections, Subcutaneous/education , Injections, Subcutaneous/instrumentation , New York , SyringesABSTRACT
A medication system in use at the Florida Mental Health Institute is based on the unit-dose procedure and weekly reviews of patients' medications. The program is aimed at reducing the use of polypharmacy and of concentrates and stabilizing patients on a single daily bedtime dose of medication. Once patients are stabilized on a single dose, they are trained by the nurses and through a drug group to manage their medications independently after discharge. The system has produced savings of up to 90 per cent of medication costs per patient and is gaining acceptance in other mental health facilities in the state. The authors believe it has the potential for even greater therapeutic and financial benefits by reducing the recidivism that occurs when discharged patients discontinue their drugs.
Subject(s)
Drug Administration Schedule , Medication Systems, Hospital/organization & administration , Psychotropic Drugs/administration & dosage , Self Administration , Adult , Aged , Cost Control , Costs and Cost Analysis , Drug Administration Schedule/economics , Florida , Hospitals, Psychiatric , Humans , Medication Systems, Hospital/economics , Middle Aged , Patient Compliance , Self Administration/education , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Reimbursement for four clinical pharmaceutical services (growth hormone home instruction, patient consultation, patient visit and pharmacokinetic consultation), separate from other drug-related fees, is discussed. Included are descriptions of the clinical services, how they were provided, how charges were determined and documented, and how the proposal was submitted which initiated the charges. During a four-month observation period, from May to August 1977, 27 physicians requested a total of 71 clinical pharmaceutical services. Pharmacy charges generated by these requests totaled $4,492. Patients' and physicians' comments concerning the services have been positive, and pharmacy charges generated continue to average $1,100/month.
