Information for Patients
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What is Transition of Care?
- Transition of Care is when a patient moves from one health care setting to another. For example, when you leave hospital and return home.
- It is common for changes to be made to your medicines when you are in hospital.
- It is important that you or your carer understand these changes. It is also important that your regular GP and pharmacy know about these changes.
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What is the Transition of Care Pharmacy Project?
Some hospitals are trying a new pharmacy service to improve the transfer of care from hospital to home.
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Which patients will be included in the project?
The transition of care service is currently being tested and is only available to a small number of patients in the following Queensland Health sites:
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
- Princess Alexandra Hospital
- Townsville University Hospital
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What services are provided?
The hospital pharmacist will assess your medicines, medical conditions, and why you are in hospital. The hospital pharmacist may:
- Talk to you about your medicines. They will discuss any changes, how to take your medicines and what side effects to look out for.
- Give you a medicines list to take home.
- Send a copy of the list to your regular GP and community pharmacist.
- Contact you at home to check your medicines. This follow-up will occur within a week of you leaving the hospital.
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Who needs a follow-up?
Not all patients will need a follow-up. It may be suggested if you:
- Take a lot of medicines
- Have started new medicines
- Have changes to your medicines
- Have problems taking your medicines
- Are worried about your medicines
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What are the benefits of a follow-up with the hospital pharmacist?
The hospital pharmacist will:
- Check you are coping with your medicines at home.
- Help you sort out any problems or concerns with your medicine.
- Answer your questions.
- Contact your regular GP and pharmacy to hand over your care.
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How will I be followed up?
The follow-up will be done in your own home by a telehealth video call, or by telephone.
The hospital pharmacist will book a day and time for your appointment and explain how to contact them.
You will receive an email or SMS message to confirm your follow-up appointment. A reminder will also be sent to you before your appointment.
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How do I get ready for my follow-up appointment?
Before your appointment, please gather ALL your medicines and prescriptions near to your device or phone. This includes:
- Medicines prescribed by a GP.
- Medicines bought from a pharmacy, supermarket or the internet.
- Any vitamins, minerals, herbal medicines or supplements.
- Any puffers, patches, drops, sprays, injected medicines or creams.
- Any medicine you keep in the fridge
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How long will the appointment take?
The follow-up will last 20 to 30 minutes.
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What about privacy and confidentiality?
- All appointments are private and secure.
- They will not be recorded.
- A handover document will be sent to your regular GP and pharmacy.
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What happens if I don’t have a regular GP or pharmacy?
- Having a regular GP and pharmacy is important for ongoing care. If you don’t, the hospital pharmacist will discuss your options.
- You can still receive medicines information, a discharge medication list and the follow-up service.
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What happens if I don’t want a follow-up appointment?
- You don’t have to take part in the follow-up service.
- You will still receive advice and, if appropriate, a medicines list from the hospital pharmacist.
