Pharmacology From a Patient Safety Perspective, Essay Example

Pharmacology involves the science of the action of drugs on human biological system. Understanding pharmacology entails the knowledge of the chemical properties of drugs, their sources, therapeutic uses of drugs and the effects associated with these drugs on biological systems of the user. Knowledge concerning the positive effects and potential hazards associated with use of drugs must be made clear in pharmacology. The positive effects entail treatment along with prevention of diseases through drug therapy. Development of drugs has been associated with remarkable progress but a clear comprehension of the modes of action of these drugs is associated with endless challenges (Nordgren, et al., 2006).

The primary challenge associated with pharmacology involves patients’ safety which has been a critical concern among health experts such as dispensers, prescribers as well as carers. The major concern of pharmacology with regard to the safety of patients involves errors that are associated with medication. Prescribing and dispensing medical drugs must be undertaken with a sense of improving the safety of the patient. Consequently, patient safety has been an issue of great concern among different agencies including the government, insurance companies, health care experts, pharmaceutical firms and the patients.

The most vulnerable group in the population involves the older adults. Statistics indicate that 25 to 40 percent of the total prescriptions are administered to older adults. This therefore is the group of people in the society that is likely to encounter pharmacotherapy errors with significant implications to their morbidity as well as mortality which consequently augments the costs associated with health care. In pharmacology from a patient safety perspective therefore, it is prudent to address the issues of safety and an effectual plan in drug therapy when working with older adults.

The process of aging is associated with the presence of diseases that consequently affects the processes of drug absorption, distribution in the body system, metabolism as well as excretion. Specific criteria for dosing have been set for every type of medication on account of the age of the patient, body weight and mass index, weight, gender, hepatic function and renal function. Dealing with older adults brings about a challenge of addressing the needs of informed consent. This is a generally recommended safety tool for the patient that involve warning the patient about potential side effects and the relevant action to be taken in case of an emergency after using the drugs (Pinilla, et al., 2006).

Patients are constantly exposed to new medications that are constantly associated with safety hazards in the course of proliferated clinical practice. The detection of these hazards is only possible after a substantially long period after medication. Pharmacologists therefore are obligated to identify suitable measures that can drastically reduce instances of mortality as well as morbidity that are associated with such hazards. Addressing issues of patient safety that are associated with such scenario involve implementation of active systems of drug safety surveillance prior to their marketing. Mandatory follow-up surveys are also required to address the problems that are suspected and a supplementary safety study prior to approval and consequent sale of the product. The process of drug development nevertheless is associated with substantial erosion into constructive patent lives associated with introduction of novel drugs. This has consequently escalated the pressure on providers of health care, pharmaceutical investors as well as regulatory agencies. A reasonable suggestion in this regard involves consideration of potential benefits on prolongation of the patent life so that issues of patient safet are adequately addressed.

References

Nordgren, L.D., Johnson, T., Kirschbaum, M. & Peterson, M.L. (2006). Medical errors: Excess hospital cost and lengths of stay. Journal for Healthcare Quality, 26 (2): 42-48.

Pinilla, J., Murillo, C., Carrasco, G. & Humet, C. (2006). Case-control analysis of the financial cost of medication errors in hospitalized patients. European Journal Health Economics, 7,       66–71.