Consensus methodology to investigate appropriate referral criteria for inpatients to be offered a transfer of care service as they are discharged home

Abstract

Hamde Nazar,1 Gregory Maniatopoulos,2 Efi Mantzourani,3 Neil Watson41School of Pharmacy, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; 2Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; 3School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK; 4Pharmacy Services, Royal Victoria Infirmary NHS Hospital Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK An emerging clinical role for community pharmacists is to become actively involved in the follow-up care of patients who are discharged back into the community (transfer of care services) by promoting better medication adherence and by contributing to the safe, effective, and efficient use of medication.1 Recent research highlights how this extended role of community pharmacists could help to reduce drug-related adverse events, unnecessary health provider visits, hospitalizations, and readmissions while strengthening integrated primary care delivery across the healthcare system.1,2