Medication History
A medication history is a comprehensive record of all the medications a patient is currently taking or has taken recently, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, herbal supplements, and any other therapies.
In clinical pharmacy:
Pharmacists gather this history to ensure that current or proposed drug therapies are appropriate and won't interact negatively with anything the patient is already taking.
It helps identify past drug-related problems, allergies, or intolerances.
It's crucial for understanding patient adherence and compliance to therapy.
Assists in creating an accurate medication reconciliation, especially when patients are transitioning between different care settings (like from hospital to home).
Pharmaceutical Care
Pharmaceutical care is a patient-centered, outcomes-oriented pharmacy practice that requires the pharmacist to work in concert with the patient and the patient's other healthcare providers to promote health, prevent disease, and assess, monitor, initiate, and modify medication use to assure that drug therapy regimens are safe and effective.
In clinical pharmacy:
It involves not just dispensing medication, but also monitoring and managing the patient's overall therapy to ensure optimal outcomes.
Pharmacists educate and counsel patients on the proper use of their medications.
It focuses on improving patients' quality of life through optimal medication management.
Emphasizes the pharmacist's role in assessing, planning, and monitoring drug therapy, often in collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
