The following are the importance of Pharmacotherapy;
· Helps in optimization of drug treatment in complex pharmacotherapy patients such as;
o Patients with multiple medications
o Patients with multiple disease states or conditions
o Patients on narrow therapeutic index medications
o Patients on medications requiring laboratory monitoring
o Helps in optimization of drug therapy in patients with high risk for loss of continuity of care such as;
o Patients with multiple prescribers
o Patients with recent transitions of care (e.g., hospital discharge, rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility discharge)
· Helps in reduction of medication nonadherence especially in patients with;
o Irregular refill history
o History of failure to pick up new prescriptions
o Stockpiling or incorrect pill counts
o Financial burden (e.g., uninsured or underinsured)
o Low health literacy
o Patient’s beliefs indicate resistance to treatment
o High-cost regimens
o Noticeable decline in the health or functionality
· Improves patients-pharmaceutical personnel relationship which is important for better therapeutic outcome
References
Wells BG, DiPiro J, Schwinghammer T (2013), Pharmacotherapy Handbook (6th Ed). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
DiPiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC, Matzke GR, Wells BG, Posey ML, (2008): Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach (7th ed): New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Katz M D., Matthias KR., Chisholm-Burns M A., Pharmacotherapy(2011) Principles & Practice Study Guide: A Case-Based Care Plan Approach: New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Schwinghammer TL, Koehler JM (2009) Pharmacotherapy Casebook: A Patient-Focused Approach (7th ed): New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
