Accreditation practice pointer: medicines and prescribing patterns

QI2.2 C  Our clinical team accesses current information on medicines, and reviews our prescribing patterns, in accordance with best available evidence.

RACGP Standards for general practice, 5th edition.

Clinicians must have access to the latest information about medicines to provide optimum care. This can be achieved by using a current clinical software program.  

GPs need to review their patient’s medications and update their health record accordingly. When prescribing, practitioners must check with the patient about their allergies to avoid any reactions. It’s also a good opportunity to evaluate the patient’s compliance with the medications and educate where necessary.  Likewise, they must also mark medications as non-current when the calculated duration of the supply has expired.

Practices can develop and implement policies or protocols in areas such as antibiotics and drugs of dependence.