Patients who have health conditions that require taking multiple medications continue to benefit from medication-related education and consultations, offered by Hamad Medical Corporation’s Medication Therapy Management Clinic at Al Wakra Hospital.
Opened in 2015, the pharmacist-led clinic provides a variety of outpatient services to people who need to manage their medication therapies.
As part of the initiative, clinical pharmacists answer patients’ questions related to medication dosages, effectiveness, side effects, drug interactions, and adverse reactions.
“The Medication Therapy Management Clinic aims to provide the safest and most effective individualised medication therapies, while also encouraging patients to commit to their medication regimen and other treatments through regular follow-up care,” Dr Rasha al-Anany, director of Pharmacy, Al Wakra Hospital, said in a press statement.
“So far, the initiative has yielded positive results – based on the feedback we have received from patients,” she added.
Dr al-Anany noted that the clinic is staffed by registered clinical pharmacists with extensive experience in medication therapy management.
She added that the pharmacy team works closely with physicians to ensure each patient’s medication plan is achieving targeted therapeutic goals.
Dr al-Anany said that patients are referred to the clinic by physicians and can also walk-in; referrals or appointments are not necessary.
The clinic aims to provide patients who are taking multiple medications for chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, diabetes, end-stage renal disease, depression, and respiratory diseases with individualised education and consultation, she said.
“Patients are also referred to the clinic if they are non-adherent to their medication regime. In these cases, the patient may require individualised education. We also see patients who have been prescribed a medication that they have concerns about, such as concerns over drug interactions or adverse drug reactions,” Dr al-Anany explained.
“In this case, they may just need a little extra information or clarification. The clinic provides other services upon demand, including medication counselling, post-discharge medication follow-up care, including via telephone, and medication cost consultations,” she said.
Clinic co-ordinators Dr Dania Alkhiyami and Dr Sara Hayder said the clinic is working closely with patients and their doctors to provide additional information about medications and medical issues.
The two doctors said the clinic is also providing specialised pharmaceutical care for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who require extensive education and follow-up care on prescribed medications, especially inhalers.
Hundreds of patients benefited from this service since an agreement between the Medication Therapy Management Clinic and Pulmonary Clinic at Al Wakra Hospital was signed earlier this year.
“The Collaborative Drug Therapy Management (CDTM) agreement further strengthened the relationship between physicians and pharmacists. We are committed to maximising patient medication therapy plans,” said Dr Alkhiyami.
“CDTM is a new care model evolved to cover areas of practice that require extensive medication reviews and follow-up. This professional partnership will allow the clinical pharmacists to integrate their knowledge, skills, and experiences to help optimise drug regimens,” added Dr Alkhiyami.
Dr Hayder noted that pharmacists have the necessary tools and knowledge to implement timely screening and effective prevention initiatives, noting that the Clinic is playing an important role in helping patients meet therapeutic targets.
“A major focus of our work is monitoring patients’ self-monitored blood pressure, weight, blood sugar, and peak flow meter readings, according to their therapeutic targets. We also help co-ordinate their pharmacy visits with medication refills, helping patients manage their medications and assisting them with difficulties accessing medications,” she said.
