What components should a general patient workup template include for an ambulatory care pharmacist?

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Last updated: September 10, 2025View editorial policy

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Ambulatory Care Pharmacist Patient Workup Template

A comprehensive patient workup template for ambulatory care pharmacists should include structured sections for medication management, medical history, and care planning to optimize patient morbidity, mortality, and quality of life outcomes.

Patient Demographics

  • Name, DOB, Age, Gender
  • Contact information
  • Primary language/interpreter needs
  • Insurance information
  • Primary care provider and specialists
  • Referral source and reason

Chief Complaint/Reason for Visit

  • Primary reason for pharmacy consultation
  • Patient's stated goals for the visit
  • Referring provider's goals for the consultation

Medication Profile

  • Current prescription medications (name, strength, directions, start date)
  • Over-the-counter medications and supplements
  • Medication allergies and reactions
  • Medication adherence assessment
  • Medication reconciliation findings
  • Recent medication changes
  • Pharmacy preference and refill history
  • Medication storage and administration techniques
  • Medication costs/financial concerns

Medical History

  • Chronic medical conditions with dates of diagnosis
  • Past surgeries and hospitalizations
  • Family medical history relevant to medication therapy
  • Social history:
    • Tobacco/alcohol/substance use
    • Diet and exercise patterns
    • Living situation and social support
    • Occupation
    • Social determinants of health (housing, transportation, food security) 1, 2

Review of Systems

  • Targeted symptoms related to medication therapy
  • Potential adverse drug reactions
  • Disease-specific symptoms (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, heart failure)

Vital Signs and Physical Assessment

  • Blood pressure (following proper technique) 1
  • Heart rate
  • Respiratory rate
  • Temperature (if indicated)
  • Weight/BMI
  • Targeted physical assessment findings relevant to medication therapy

Laboratory and Diagnostic Data

  • Recent laboratory values relevant to medication therapy
  • Disease-specific monitoring parameters (e.g., A1C, lipid panel, INR) 2
  • Diagnostic test results
  • Therapeutic drug monitoring results

Medication Therapy Assessment

  • Drug-related problems identified
  • Drug-drug interactions
  • Drug-disease interactions
  • Inappropriate dosing or duration
  • Therapeutic duplications
  • Medication effectiveness evaluation
  • Adverse drug reactions or side effects
  • Medication adherence barriers

Care Plan

  • Medication therapy problems prioritized by clinical importance
  • Specific recommendations with rationale
  • Monitoring parameters and goals
  • Patient education provided
  • Follow-up plan and timeline
  • Referrals made to other healthcare providers

Documentation of Patient Education

  • Medication counseling provided
  • Disease state education
  • Lifestyle modifications discussed
  • Self-monitoring instructions
  • Use of teach-back method to confirm understanding 2
  • Educational materials provided

Follow-up Plan

  • Next appointment scheduling
  • Parameters requiring immediate contact
  • Communication plan with referring provider
  • Specific monitoring responsibilities

Emergency Preparedness

  • Emergency medications and equipment available 1
  • Emergency protocols and procedures
  • Emergency contact information

Pharmacist Authentication

  • Pharmacist name and credentials
  • Date and time of consultation
  • Time spent in direct patient care
  • Billing codes (if applicable)
  • Collaborative practice agreement reference (if applicable) 3

SOAP Format Documentation Section

Use the SOAP method for structured documentation 4:

  • Subjective: Patient's reported symptoms, concerns, and goals
  • Objective: Measurable clinical data (vital signs, lab values, physical findings)
  • Assessment: Clinical analysis of the patient's condition and medication-related problems
  • Plan: Specific recommendations, interventions, education, and follow-up

This template incorporates key elements from clinical guidelines and best practices for ambulatory care pharmacy practice, focusing on comprehensive medication management to improve patient outcomes related to morbidity, mortality, and quality of life.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Guideline

Comprehensive Patient Interview for Diabetes and Warfarin Management

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Research

Documenting pharmaceutical care: creating a standard.

The Annals of pharmacotherapy, 1994

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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