Pharmacy

Introduction to Pharmacy Services

"Quality Service" is a valuable element to satisfy our customers. We not only provide a 24-hour pharmaceutical service to patients looking for drug dispensing and counseling at any time, but also provide plenty of medical and drug information to help them to understand more about their drug regimens and to adhere to them. We have set up a 24-hour Drug Information Inquiry Hotline (23398964) at which patients can obtain personalized support whenever they encountered problems related to medication use.

In order to cope with the ever-changing needs and expectations of our customers, it is our belief to improve our service quality proactively and continuously. A Continuous Quality Improvement (C.Q.I.) team was established in the year of 2003 aiming to understand the needs of our customers and making practical plans to meet identified needs. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2003, our resident medical officers started using the CMS system for prescribing at the outpatient clinic. This system reduces the risks related to misreading illegible handwriting on prescriptions and lowers the chance of errors. It also makes our dispensing process more efficient and hence shortens the waiting time.

To achieve and maintain objectives in providing high quality services, we are participating in overseas accreditation programs. Since the year 2000, our pharmacy has obtained affirmation from the Trent Accreditation Scheme for many times. Our quality service is highly recognized and affirmed.

In striving for superior quality service, every colleague has to participate in continuous education programs to ensure that their medicinal knowledge can keep pace with contemporary situation.

In-patient and Out-patient Pharmacy Services

When dispensing, we must ensure all information on prescriptions is adequate and correct like patient's name, hospital number, name of medicine, directions, dosages and doctor's signature etc. If the above is satisfactory, our pharmacy staff will enter information into our system. Labels contain the patient's name, name of medicine, directions, and cautionary instructions, etc either in Chinese or English. Packaged and labeled medicines must be checked by another staff before they are issued to patient or ward.

Whenever queries emerged on prescriptions, we shall discuss them with the prescriber in order to protect our patients from the potential harm from the misuse of medicine with all efforts. Pharmacy professionals are willing to explain the use of medicines and respective precautions to patients during medication counseling and advice seeking.

Pharmacy Facilities

Pharmacy Manufacturing Room
The Pharmacy Manufacturing Room is mainly used to prepare antiseptic solutions and some prescribed medicines with dosage forms that are not available from drug companies or those having supply temporarily interrupted.

The water supply in the room is processed through a high-grade water purifier. The purifier has a set of high efficiency filters to remove impurities and microorganisms in water. Water samples are tested at designated intervals to ensure the quality meet the highest international standards. Besides, a fume cupboard is installed for handling substances that are harmful or producing vapors.

All products and their raw materials have to pass our strict internal control and quality assurance measures before they are supplied to patients or wards.

Chemotherapy Medicine Preparation Room
We have specially arranged a Chemotherapy Medicine Preparation Room for preparing medicines for treating cancer. Trained personnel will prepare chemotherapy medicines for patients in a quiet, clean and germ-free environment to ensure the medicines prepared are safe and effective in helping patients to achieve their treatment goals. On the other hand, the facilities in the room also protect our personnel from being contaminated by chemotherapy medicines in the preparation process.

Aseptic Preparation Room
In the Aseptic Preparation Room, we prepare Total Parenteral Nutrition products or other intravenous preparations according to the doctor's prescription. The service serves critically ill or immuno-compromised patients like some early-born babies or cancer patients who are vulnerable and unable to eat or drink. The whole process is undergone in a clean and germ-free environment by trained pharmacy staff to prepare medicines that are up to standard.

At times, in the room, we will prepare preparations like eye drops that are not available on market and requiring high standards in sterility and cleanliness to meet the specific needs of patients.

Medication Store
The pharmacy has stocked up two thousand and five hundred different medications that are kept in advanced storage cabinets. The temperature of Medication Store is controlled within 18-20°C. Pharmacy staffs monitor the temperature daily and check the expiry dates of medicines regularly to ensure the quality of our medicine is maintained. All our medicines registered under regulation of the Hong Kong Department of Health, are quality and safety affirmed.