97 lines
5.0 KiB
Markdown
97 lines
5.0 KiB
Markdown
# Technical Notes: The New Medication Service (NMS)
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**Source:** [The New Medication Service (NMS) - Andy the Pharmacist](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm1wcX92XlQ)
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**Goal:** Training guide for pharmacy staff to implement and manage the NMS effectively.
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---
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## 01: Introduction and Purpose [00:00:00]
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The **New Medicine Service (NMS)** is a professional consultation service provided by pharmacies for patients starting a new medication for specific long-term conditions.
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* **Primary Aim:** To support patients in the initial weeks of treatment to ensure they take medication safely and effectively.
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* **The "Why":** * **Patient Health:** Improves quality of life and treatment outcomes.
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* **NHS Efficiency:** Reduces medicine wastage and prevents hospital admissions due to non-adherence.
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* **Financial Impact:** Creates measurable savings for the healthcare system.
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---
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## 02: The Three-Stage Workflow [00:00:36]
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### Stage 1: Engagement (Day 0)
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* **Trigger:** When a patient presents a prescription for a new eligible medication.
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* **Process:**
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* Identify eligibility based on condition.
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* Explain the service and benefits.
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* **Consent:** Obtain formal written consent.
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* **Contact:** Agree on a follow-up method (Telephone or In-Person).
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* **Staff Role:** This stage can be initiated by *any* member of the pharmacy team.
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### Stage 2: Intervention (Weeks 1–2)
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* **Timeline:** 7 to 14 days after the patient starts the medicine.
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* **Process:**
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* Pharmacist discusses how the patient is getting on.
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* Identify **barriers** (side effects, forgetfulness, or poor technique).
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* Pharmacist provides clinical advice or refers back to the GP if serious issues arise.
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### Stage 3: Follow-Up (Weeks 3–4)
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* **Timeline:** 2 to 3 weeks after the Intervention stage.
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* **Process:**
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* Review any prior issues identified in Stage 2.
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* Reinforce the long-term benefits of the medication.
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* Confirm the patient is now taking the medicine as prescribed.
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---
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## 03: Operational Implementation [00:01:41]
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### Identifying Candidates
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* **The Golden Question:** *"Are any of these medications new for you?"*
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* **The Visual Cue:** Draw a small **star** on the right-hand side of the drug name on the prescription. This alerts the pharmacist that an NMS opportunity exists.
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### Eligibility Criteria (Target Conditions) [00:02:01]
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The service is limited to patients with:
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1. **Asthma and COPD:** Respiratory issues (e.g., new inhalers).
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2. **Hypertension:** High blood pressure.
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3. **Antiplatelets/Anticoagulation:** Blood thinning medications.
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4. **Type 2 Diabetes:** Blood sugar management.
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### The Paperwork [00:02:35]
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* **Consent Form:** Must be signed and dated by the patient.
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* **Phone Number:** Essential to capture an accurate number for the follow-up call.
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* **Dispensary Workflow:** If labeling a prescription for an absent patient, check records. If it looks like a new NMS drug, "star" the script and add a consent form to the basket for the pharmacist to handle during the handout.
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---
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## 04: Visual Reference Guide
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| Visual Element | Description / Purpose |
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| :--- | :--- |
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| **Progress Chart** | A linear timeline showing the 3 stages: Engagement $\rightarrow$ Intervention $\rightarrow$ Follow-up. |
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| **Condition Icons** | Visual symbols for Lungs (Asthma), Heart (Hypertension), Blood Drop (Anticoagulants), and Sugar (Diabetes). |
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| **The "Star" System** | A POV shot showing a staff member marking a script to signal the pharmacist. |
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| **Rob Case Study** | A real-world example of an asthma patient using an inhaler incorrectly, corrected by the NMS intervention. |
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| **Adherence Graph** | Shows non-adherence dropping from **1 in 5 (20%)** to **1 in 10 (10%)** via the NMS. |
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---
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## 05: Summary and Key Takeaways
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### High-Level Summary
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The NMS is a structured pharmacy intervention designed to catch medication errors and adherence issues early. By utilizing a three-step process—Engagement, Intervention, and Follow-up—pharmacies can halve the rate of patient non-adherence for critical conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
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### Key Insights
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* **Team Effort:** Identification isn't just for pharmacists; counter staff and dispensers are the "front line."
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* **Early Intervention:** Most problems occur in the first 2 weeks of treatment.
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* **Clinical Safety:** Provides a safety net to refer patients back to GPs before health deteriorates.
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* **Statistics:** NMS reduces non-adherence from 20% down to 10% by the final stage.
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* **Patient Care:** The service exists because "we care" about patient outcomes, not just dispensing boxes.
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### Glossary of Terms
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* **Adherence:** Taking medications exactly as prescribed (timing, dose, technique).
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* **COPD:** Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (lung condition).
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* **GP:** General Practitioner (Primary Care Doctor).
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* **Hypertension:** High Blood Pressure.
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* **Intervention:** A discussion to identify and solve a healthcare problem.
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