The role of the pharmacist in home health care

Home infusion services, a new facet of home health care (HHC) delivery, have created many new opportunities for hospital pharmacists to participate more actively in patient care. These opportunities can create new roles for the pharmacist as an educator, clinician, and administrator. Early efforts must be made to educate hospital administrators, physicians, and other allied health personnel regarding the advantages and disadvantages of providing HHC--from the perspective of both patients and institutions. The pharmacist can also collect data to assist in determining the extent to which the institution should participate in HHC delivery, and should coordinate the hospital's efforts to initiate home infusion services. Pharmacists should play an active role in screening, selecting, and training patients for HHC before discharge. The input of pharmacists in drug product selection and assistance in product compounding can ensure optimal patient outcomes and minimize costs. Clinical monitoring activities conducted by the pharmacist can include telephone interviews with patients at home and assessment of clinical progress during scheduled return visits to the clinic.