Practice Standard for the Provision of Drug Information Services

Practice Standard for the Provision of Drug Information Services (Nov 2007)

Drafted by: Carolyn Rochat

Revised by: Liezl Fourie

These guidelines are intended to provide a framework for the hospital and institutional pharmacist to provide a drug information service in their place of work, and to develop a systematic approach in answering enquiries. It is intended to provide a minimum standard of service provision which aims to a) enhance the image and credibility of the profession, and b) ensure that information of the highest standard is provided to healthcare professionals to the ultimate benefit of the patient. Guidance is also given on where the service can be extended. This practice standard serves to formalise some of the activities already undertaken by hospital pharmacists in their daily work. Although the provision of a drug information centre would be the ideal to strive for this is not always practical within the arena of limited resources.

SAAHIP DIC practice standard 2008 (accepted Nov 2007)