Staff Writer
The National Center for Cancer treatment and Research (NCCCR) of Hamad Medical Corporation is transforming patient treatment with its all-in-one “Clinical pharmacist-led oncology clinic.” This approach of treatment, overseen by highly qualified clinical pharmacists, guarantees that patients with cancer receive optimized services catered to their unique needs.
According to Dr. Maria Benkhadra, a clinical pharmacist at NCCCR, the new clinic is seen as a significant step toward enhancing services since it promotes the safe and effective use of medication, enhances patient safety, and cuts down on the amount of time needed to address drug-related issues. She remarked that the clinic is “another successful step towards improving.”
Patients can anticipate thorough medication management and support at the “Clinical pharmacist-led oncology clinic” as they undergo cancer therapy. The pharmacy team collaborates closely with to ensure the safe and efficient use of cancer drugs, oncologists and other healthcare experts can develop individualized medication programs. They carry out extensive evaluations of each patient’s medical background, present medications, and unique treatment objectives to create tailored care plans that put the safety and wellbeing of the patient first.
“This clinic (Clinical pharmacist-led oncology clinic) will provide you with free of charge clinical pharmacy services if you are a patient diagnosed with an organ-specific cancer (not a blood cancer) and your doctor has decided that you receive chemotherapy through the vein (intravenous; IV),” Dr. Benkhadra said in an interview with NCCCR’s newsletter “News and Views.”
Dr. Benkhadra described the role of clinical pharmacy services in the clinic, stating that “The services given by our highly skilled clinical pharmacy staff include reviewing all identifying any potential medication-related problems and working with your doctor to address them.
According to her, it will be carried out in consultation with the physician, and it will be ensured that the therapy selected is the best choice for the patient in accordance with global standards.
Additionally, the clinic’s pharmacists will examine all the prescription drugs and dietary supplements to ensure that they have no adverse effects on the course of therapy.
They examine every lab result that could influence how well a patient responds to treatment. The clinic’s pharmacists also provide detailed follow-up on the doctor’s education and address any questions patients may have about their medications.
“These services will make it easier for you to identify any medication-related issues that you could be at risk for early on. This enables you to get the most out of your meds, increase your safety, and cut down on the amount of time needed to address medication-related issues on the day of your chemotherapy, according to Dr. Benkhadra.
“In addition, delayed detection of any medication-related issues may necessitate additional therapies to lessen their effects.
“Therefore, it stands to reason that early detection of certain conditions can also lower the overall cost of therapy.
These advantages are not just obvious; international research, including a published review that compiled 17 papers on the subject, has also supported them. These investigations were carried out in different institutions throughout numerous nations,” she continued.
