Navigating the Muddy Waters of Pharmacy: Improving Communication & Reducing Error

Veterinarians in private practice face many challenges when it comes to pet medications as the market rapidly expands beyond the clinic. Since the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association’s 2012 survey on prescription errors, the awareness of serious medication errors has increased in both the veterinary and pharmacy communities, but there is still work to be done on both sides to improve communication. Join a practicing private practice veterinarian and licensed pharmacist as we discuss the current state of pharmacy issues. We will review common sources of errors in veterinary prescriptions including unclear prescriptions, dispensing of the incorrect medication, and recommending incorrect dosage changes. Suggestions for preventing these errors and techniques for building a successful working relationship with local pharmacists will be a focus of this lecture. Additionally, we will discuss new challenges facing veterinarians when dealing with online pharmacies and potential for counterfeit medication.

Pharmacology

Presented by 
Kate Boatright, VMD
Associate Veterinarian at Butler Veterinary Associates and Emergency Center

& Lauren Forsythe, PharmD, DICVP, FSVHP
Veterinary Pharmacy Coordinator at College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Presented at Wild West Vet 2019
Clinical Theater 3