Question

A palliative care pharmacist and pharmacy technician work with the inpatient pharmacy to obtain a higher concentration of hydromorphone to be administered subcutaneously to a patient in hospice. The interdisciplinary team decided to use this medication after discussing the patient’s past medication trials and inability to establish an intravenous line. Prior to the technician preparing the medication, the pharmacist explains the use of the medication and how it will be administered to the patient using the teach-back method. Which best describes this pharmacist-specific contribution?

Answer 1

The pharmacist is providing medication counseling/education — explaining the drug, dose and subcutaneous administration and using the teach‑back method to verify the patient/family’s understanding (a pharmacist-specific medication‑therapy education and safety role).