5 Tools Community Pharmacists Should Be Using.

5 Tools Pharmacists Should Be Using.

In today’s post, Pharmacist Diary opens up another informative page. This page contents my favourite tools for a smooth daily operations. Both experienced pharmacists and newly qualified pharmacists will find this post useful. These are the 5 tools I use on a daily basis.

1. British National Formulary (BNF) 
Concerned about a dosage regime?
Are the prescribed antibiotics suitable for an expectant or breastfeeding mother?
Do you need to find an alternate medicinal form?

The BNF will provide the answers you seek.

2. Drug Information Profile App
A really good app is the Medscape app. It contains useful features however the most ideal function is the Drug Interaction Checker. It allows you to add various drugs to see if an interaction exists.Micromedex app also contains similar features.

Tip: Use the pharmacy dispensing system (compass, nexphase, pharmacy manager) to check for an interaction in seconds.

3. Minor Ailment Resource 

Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education CPPE has a really good Responding To Minor Ailment handout
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.
This is very handy, it Highlights Danger Symptoms, when to Refer patients to the GP and practical tips to improve patients conditions.
It also contains information of Differential Diagnosis and the available treatment options Over The Counter.

4. Electronic Medicines Compendium
You can access Summaries of Product Characteristics here.
Questions about storage precaution?
When a patient needs to know how long to can wait after administration of metronidazole before alcohol can be consumed. This is where the answer will be.

5. A Notepad 
Make a note of events that stands out and burning questions that requires further investigation at a later stage. You can add reminders such as balance check deadlines.

These are the 5 tools pharmacists should be using.