• Carolin Wolf, Frank Dörje, Carsten Klein, and Christoph Ostgathe.
• Apotheke des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen, Palmsanlage 3, 91054, Erlangen, Deutschland. carolin.wolf@uk-erlangen.de.
• Schmerz. 2019 Dec 1; 33 (6): 533-538.

BackgroundThe effect of integrating clinical pharmacists in German palliative care units with regard to the quality of drug therapy and drug costs has yet not been evaluated.ObjectivesThis work aims to assess the number of pharmaceutical interventions (PI) and the cost-benefit ratio of a clinical pharmacist taking part in the interprofessional patient care team on an inpatient palliative care unit in Germany.MethodsThe number of and underlying reasons for the pharmacist-led recommendations were recorded and analyzed over a 1-year period. In addition, the respective drugs and the acceptance rate of recommendations were assessed. To evaluate the cost-benefit ratio, the financial savings in the provision of drugs were recorded and compared with the expenses for the clinical pharmacy service.ResultsA total of 245 PI were performed. Most frequently, the pharmacist advised physicians on drug choices and drug dosages. The acceptance rate was 93%. The cost savings in the provision of drugs covered 83% of the expenses for the clinical pharmacy service.ConclusionThe results indicate that the integration of a clinical pharmacist is well suited to optimizing the interprofessional treatment of distressing symptoms with a beneficial economic outcome in palliative care. Consequently, the permanent integration of a clinical pharmacist on an inpatient palliative care unit seems to be beneficial and advisable.

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