This therapeutic care plan will utilized the “I can treat and prescribe framework” to ensure that appropriate patient treatments are selected using a step by step approach, including assessment integration, drug and/or disease related problems, therapeutic goals, therapeutic alternatives and indications, plan of care and evaluation (OPHCNPP, 2012). By going through each step of this framework, and including or excluding treatment options based on individual patient factors and strong clinical evidence, this clinician will arrive at the most suitable treatment plan for the patient. H.K (32 year old male) presented with persistent facial pain for 7 days. He reported having a headache (6/10 on a pain scale) upon bending forward and …show more content…
For H.K, the oral route of medication administration was most appropriate, the least invasive and the easiest way for an adult to take drugs (Brophy et al, 2011). Advil cold and sinus is not a cytochrome P450 system inhibitor, which is the main (or partial) cause for large differences in the pharmacokinetics of other drugs (Rx Files, 2012, Epocrates, 2013). The patient was not taking borrowed prescriptions, using drugs from previous occurrences of the condition, or experiencing any adverse drug events/reactions to Advil cold and sinus. Also, he was not being double dosed or experiencing therapeutic duplication of drugs belonging to the same pharmaceutical class. H.K had no untreated medical conditions (other than his new acute sinusitis), was not taking drugs prescribed by other clinicians and there were no other factors (communication errors, non-adherence, financial restrictions) influencing his ability to receive medication. Antibiotic therapy should be reserved for patients with acute bacterial sinusitis as defined by a complete history and physical examination (AMA, 2008). A “wait and see” approach has been suggested in recent Canadian guidelines as a means of differentiating bacterial sinusitis from a viral respiratory tract infection (Desrosiers et al., 2011). Initiation of treatment should take place 7 to 10 days after persistent symptoms or when signs compatible with acute sinusitis occur (Desrosiers et al., 2011). Since H.K’s
During my assessment I used the “Seven principles of good prescribing” to aid my decision making (National Prescribing Centre (NPC) 1999). This structured framework allows the prescriber to assess all appropriate factors and problems and make an informed decision whether to issue a prescription or discuss other options with the patient Humphries (2002). Examples of these options would be offering advice about their condition/problem or informing them that the treatment/items they require would be cheaper over the counter, thus making optimum use of the NHS budget, Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) (2003).
The multidisciplinary team meeting is an example of the process in action. Many clinicians are present. Most will be in a position to help formulate the most appropriate management for the patient. The doctor directly responsible presents the present situation and the relevant background. The assessment will include a discussion with the clinician to clarify the clinical findings and a joint review of the results of all relevant investigations. Recommendations will be agreed by all present. These will be documented in the patient's records for implementation.
The collaborating physician must establish agreed upon protocols. For example appropriate treatment regimen and prescription.
All three providers have agreed that prescribing a pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment regimen must result from clinical judgment based on a thorough assessment of the patient and the patient’s environment, present and past medical history, current home medication, the determination of differential diagnosis and appropriate diagnostic procedure, a review of potential alternative therapies and specific knowledge about the drug chosen and the disease process it is designed to treat (Woo & Robinson, 2016; p.6).
Every year a familiar scene plays out in clinic waiting rooms, chairs filled with miserable patients waiting to see their physician with complaints of a never ending cough and a constant nasal drip. More than likely, these patients will receive a prescription for antibiotics, but should they? Most acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs), do not require an antibiotic, the symptoms will resolve themselves over time without antibiotic treatment. Healthcare experts and scientists have warned the public about the dangers of overusing antibiotics, and there are thousands of studies to support that fact, but no one is listening. Patients are convinced they need to have antibiotic treatment, and somehow their time is wasted if they leave empty
A 32 Y/O female present to the clinic with 2 week H/O stabbing jaw pain 8/10 with lightening-like sensation along the eye and over the forehead. No meds taken for relief, afebrile at home, no facial trauma or head injuries in past. Upon examination, you palpate crepitus in the TMJ area with opening and closing of mouth. The most
Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), including acute otitis media (AOM) are the most common cause of ambulatory physician visits and antimicrobial prescriptions in children1,2. The most common bacterial causes of URTI are Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, though the majority of cases are caused by viral pathogens 3–10. Distinguishing between viral and bacterial URTI can be difficult. Reports on quality of antimicrobial prescriptions have shown a 30-50% of all out-patient prescriptions due to (upper) respiratory tract infections to be inappropriate2,10,11. In Europe the quality of prescription is higher in the north of the continent, including Iceland compared to in the south12. Conversely, many factors contribute to the overuse of antimicrobials2,13–15, which in turn results to increase in antimicrobial resistance16,17. Contributing factors cited by by physicians to cause over-prescription include uncertainty of diagnosis, fear of disease complications, lack of perception of harmful effects of antimicrobials, not perceiving their own prescription practices to be a problem, pressure by patients, limited time, fear of damaging doctor-patient relationship in addition to language, cultural and educational barriers2,13–15. Antimicrobials were long a mainstay treatment against AOM in fear of rare, but dangerous complications, which have later been found to be unfounded, asnd
The primary rule of any treatment regimen is to first do no harm which is the first paradigm learned in any healthcare training program. This necessarily covers a large grouping of consequences among which are physical, emotional and financial harm. It is imperative that treatments continuously be discovered which will better allow professionals to determine what is happening with the patient, but improving these treatments so that they are less invasive and more comfortable is also a significant goal. Reducing the financial burden of treatments is a peripheral goal, but if it is attainable it will lessen the stress that patients feel also.
Therefore, after going through this process of implementing clinical resources and critical thinking in order to make a clinical decision in the patient’s best interest, I am certain that the artifact will facilitate my continuing professional development as I am presented with the opportunity to improve my skills, to continuously strive to always take in consideration all possible determinants that may factor into pointing towards the best therapy for the patient, as well to work even closer with my future colleagues and other healthcare professionals. It is through these types of active learning that I have become more aware of patients needs, critical questions that should be asked to the patient in order to have a complete view of the case that can tailor the teams or my decision of therapy. I am certain that as a future pharmacist, I will be able to implement all of this when I am caring for a
Taking antibiotics when there is no bacterial infection to treat can actually do more harm than good. Many think that their sinus problems are actually due to a bacterial infection, when the most common scenario is a viral infection. Viral infections do not require antibiotic treatment, and typically resolve on their own. If you find that your symptoms last more than 7 to 10 days, see your doctor to check if an antibiotic is the appropriate course of action to take.
Did you know that an estimated 37 million American suffer from sinus problems yearly? Sinus pain can be caused by a bacterial infection, allergies, or from a cold, so it’s no surprise that most people have experienced sinus pain at some point in their lives. Sinus pain does not discriminate and is not seasonal, as it can strike at any point of the year. Unfortunately, sinus pain can be debilitating and can affect the quality of your life, but luckily there are ways to help relieve the not-so-fun symptoms.
Head and Neck: Patient skull is of normocephalic, atraumatic and without masses. The patient 's facial expression and facial contours are normal. The parotid glands are normal. The sinuses are non-tender. Palpation of the temporal and masseter muscles reveals normal strength of muscle contraction. There is symmetry of the nasolabial folds. There is no facial droop noted. Trachea midline. Thyroid is smooth, no goiter or
Secondly, the statement "Doctor I have Sinus" makes no sense - Everyone has a Sinus - what you are probably referring to is an infection of the para nasal sinuses - a condition called "Sinusitis".
In case of clearly established bacterial infection to otorhinolaryngological evaluation or in the event of persistence of fever with painful symptomatology after the first 72 hours the antibiotic is necessary. Generally they use broad-spectrum antibiotics properly administered daily dose and duration. In the event of repeated infections, and in close suspicion of insufficient efficacy, sensitivity testing provides information useful sull'antibiotico to which the beat is sensitive or sull'antibiotico more effective for therapeutic treatment.
Design of a Treatment Plan: Considering the uniqueness of the patient and his/her diagnosis, a treatment plan is developed that first and foremost treats the disease. (e.g., surgery), but also suggests what other things must be done alongside that “cure” to ensure the treatment will work (e.g., pain relief and bed rest) and that the best possible health is restored to the patient (e.g., physical therapy). In this process, any potential side effects of the treatment are identified, and the means for preventing or mitigating them become key elements of the treatment.