Neuropharmacy intermodule project winner announced

Our first Neuropharmacy MasterClass intermodule projects were presented and voted as the group met for their second module. Having looked extensively at multiple sclerosis (MS) and headache in module one, the delegates met for another two-day residential focussing on epilepsy and Parkinson’s.

During the course, delegates were invited to present posters outlining the key findings of their practically-applicable intermodule project.

The winner was Viv Horton, an advanced clinical pharmacist at the James Cook University Hospital, who presented her project on Improving natalizumab recording in Primary Care Records in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).

Viv wanted to ensure that her local service was meeting NHS England guidance that ‘summary care records (SCRs) should contain a complete and up-to-date list of all medication prescribed for an individual’ and improve safety and monitoring standards amongst MS patients receiving the disease modifying therapy (DMT) natalizumab with the same intervention: to ensure clear documentation of this treatment in patients’ Summary Care Record (SCR).

Viv implemented a follow up system with primary care (fig 1) which improved the rate of documentation in SCRs from 31% to 91% compliance.

Figure 1: Intermodule project intervention flowchart to improve documentation in SCRs of patients receiving DMT natalizumab, Viv Horton (taken from project poster)

Other projects included a review of an anti-epileptic drug for seizure prophylaxis in patients with acquired brain injury (ABI), and a review of all available beta-interferons for MS. Additionally, the safety and monitoring procedures around natalizumab treatments to reduce risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) was covered by more than one delegate.

If this has inspired you to further develop your pharmacy career, you can find out more about the next MasterClass online via ‘courses’ on our Neurology Academy website.