Healthcare Assignment: Patient Management and Medication Analysis

This healthcare assignment presents a comprehensive analysis of several patient cases, encompassing diabetes management, medication interactions, and treatment recommendations. The assignment delves into the complexities of insulin dosage, including Apidra and Lantus, and the importance of blood glucose monitoring. It examines the role of pharmacists in patient counseling, particularly regarding codeine and other analgesics, and emphasizes the need for patient education on potential risks and lifestyle changes. The assignment also addresses the management of various conditions such as migraine, coughs and colds, and diarrhea, offering detailed recommendations for medication, dietary adjustments, and patient communication. Furthermore, it provides a structured approach to patient interviews, identifying key concerns like cholesterol, blood pressure, and mental health, and proposes appropriate interventions and referrals. Finally, the assignment concludes with a sample letter to a physician summarizing a patient's health status and treatment needs, demonstrating the importance of clear and concise medical communication. This assignment is a valuable resource for students studying healthcare and related fields, offering practical insights into patient care and medical decision-making.

Answer 4:
a) The pattern of insulin dosage administration systematically reciprocates with the treatment
endpoints that require adjustment in accordance with the blood glucose level. Apidra
Solostar acquires the peak concentration in 1-hour following administration (Donner, 2015).
The pre-meal or post-meal dosage is administered with the objective of controlling severe
episode of hypoglycaemia and managing the mealtime glucose levels. Lantus is a long-lasting
insulin that takes 1-2 hours in exhibiting its effectiveness through the sustained
accumulation in blood stream. Lantus is administered irrespective of meal time and
effectively controls excessive fasting blood glucose level.
b) The administration of short acting Apidra could instantly control the blood glucose level
while minimizing the need of Lantus administration.
c) Liam must evaluate and monitor his blood glucose levels with a frequency of four times a
day (based on his diabetes type I pattern) in accordance with the directions stipulated by
Australian diabetes management conventions.
d) HbA1C effectively monitors the pattern of glycaemic control of an individual. The normal
HbA1C level falls between 4% - 5.6%. However, elevation in diagnostic threshold to more
than 6.5% is indicative of diabetic complication (Florkowski, 2013).
e) The signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia include headache, numbness, hunger, numbness,
dizziness, irritability and trembling. The administration of carbohydrate and glucagon
injection could effectively treat Liam’s hypoglycaemia episode.
f) Liam’s BMI is above 30 because of his obesity. Liam must consume legumes, cereals and fish
for increasing the content of polyphenols, fatty acids and dietary fibers.
g) Podiatrists effectively treat diabetic foot manifestations (including diabetic infections).
However, optometrists treat the pattern of diabetic ocular manifestations (like diabetic
retinopathy).
h) NDSS assists the diabetic patients in terms of enhancing their knowledge and awareness
regarding diabetes complications. This service also provides diabetic support services,
instruments and medications (to the diabetic patients) at optimum price.
Answer 5:
A. I. The qualified pharmacists require evaluating the need of analgesics (including codeine)
administration to the eligible patient while identifying the associated risk of their
misuse. Codeine can cause elevated level of dependence and clinical complications in
the treated patient. Therefore, its obligatory for the qualified pharmacists to effectively
counsel the patient before administering over the counter codeine.
II. a. The patient requires effective counselling while increasing her awareness regarding
the potential complications associated with long term codeine administration. The
pharmacist requires explaining her the pain management conventions and potential of
codeine in bringing health adversities following its long-term administration.
b. The pharmacist needs to emphasize the requirement of undertaking exercise
interventions and lifestyle changes with the objective of increasing the quality of life of
the treated patient in the context of reducing her pain complications (Dreisinger, 2014).
c. The patient would also require counselling regarding the requirement of opting
alternative NSAIDs (with her physician’s recommendation) for controlling the complexity
of her back pain.
B. 1. The elderly patient must acquire external aid for administering the eye drops.

2. The elderly patient must record the date of expiry as well as the date of opening of
the eye drop container.
3. The elderly patient must utilize a sanitizer on hands before administering the eye
drops or wash his hands thoroughly through a medicated soap.
4. The elderly patient must apply some pressure on the tear duct and gently instil the
eyedrops without blinking the eyes.
5. The patient must immediately report to the ophthalmologist in case he develops
burning or stinging sensation for a longer term in eyes after the eyedrops
administration.
Answer 6:
a. Tina would require administering the medicines including ibuprofen, aspirin, prochlorperazine or
domperidone for effectively controlling her symptoms of headache, nausea and visual auras.
b. Tina could consider the administration of aromatherapy with the objective of reducing her pain
and stressful condition. She might also utilize the interventions including massage/chiropractic
therapy and acupuncture for preventively reducing the development of migraine manifestations.
She could also improve her dietary pattern and administer exercise approach while concomitantly
reducing alcohol and caffeine consumption.
c. Mrs. Bryant needs to be informed regarding the potential adverse effects of cough and cold
controlling medications on the patients beneath six years of age. The effectively control the
symptoms; however, do not mitigate their aetiology because of that the infectious conditions
continue to progress and exhibit potential clinical complications for the treated child.
d. The TGA recommendations have been promoted because of the following reasons.
1. The therapeutic advantages of the cold and cough medications have not been proven and the
physicians do not recommend their administration to the growing children.
2. Cough and cold medications exhibit no mechanism to effectively control the viral manifestations
3. The children might faint or hallucinate after a potential overdose cough/cold drugs (Martinak,
Bolis, Black, Fargason, & Birur, 2017)
4. The cough/cold drugs would be unable to treat the underlying infectious conditions in the
developing child and could just mitigate the clinical manifestations of cough or cold.
E. The child might receive paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain management. Steam inhalation or
administration of the decongestant nasal spray will improve the pattern of her nasal congestion and
runny nose. Oral rehydration is another recommended option for effectively managing patient’s
symptoms.
Answer 10:
a. Patient’s diarrhoea might emanate under the influence of digoxin, diuretic or antibiotic
administration (Pincus, 2016). The antibiotic administration usually leads to the appearance
of symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea and dehydration. The concomitant
administration of diuretic with antibiotic also leads to the development of diarrhoea.
b. 1. Evaluate the dietary consumption by the patient in past week.

2. Determine the colour and consistency of patient’s stool.
3. Determine the hydration level of the affected patient. The recommendation of oral
electrolyte administration should be provided in accordance with patient’s age and
dehydration level. Antidiarrheal medication might be recommended if patient appears
reluctant in taking preventing steps related to fluid management.
4. Evaluate patient’s respiratory condition and associated manifestations (if any). Evaluate
the pattern of bradycardia or tachycardia (if reported by the patient)
5. Evaluate patient’s urination pattern and identify the occurrence of symptoms like
abdominal pain or dizziness.
6. Identify and track patient’s previous history of drug allergies, specifically from antibiotics
like penicillin and amoxycillin.
7. Identify if the patient ever experienced haematochezia or rectal haemorrhage.
Answer 11:
A.
1. Elevated cholesterol level
 Have you administered anti-cholesterol medication?
 What diet do you normally take per day?
 How much do you walk daily?
2. Elevated blood pressure
 Do you monitor your blood pressure daily?
 Do you administer any pain management medication?
 Do you consume alcohol and cigarette?
3. Bereavement/Depression
 How do you spend your time daily?
 How energetic you find yourself throughout the day?
 Do you share your emotional pain with your family members?
4. Anxiety and Distress
 Do you feel like hurting yourself?
 How often do you cry alone?
 What do you think can keep you motivated?
5. Constipation
 How much water do you consume daily and how much physical exercise you think
can keep you healthy?
 What kind of stool do you pass? Hard or soft? Do you feel pain while passing the
stools?
 When do you experience constipation in a day? From how much time are you
suffering from this condition?
6. Alcohol and smoking Addiction
 When do you actually feel the need the feel or smoking and alcohol consumption?
 Did you take any measure to quit smoking and alcoholism?
 Do you smoke or drink alcohol when you feel distressed?
B.
Issue/concern identified Appropriate recommendations/advice
Abnormal cholesterol level Administer exercise interventions

concomitantly with the increased dose of
atorvastatin (Mann, Beedie, & Jimenez, 2014).
Hypertension Age appropriate administration of
hydrocholorthiazide or calcium channel blocker
(because of patient’s elderly age) (Cooney,
Milfred-LaForest , & Rahman , 2015)
Bereavement/Depression Endorphin administration for mood elevation
Administration of any anti-depression
medication like fluoxetine or paroxetine
(PubMed, 2017)
Anxiety/Distress Administration of cognitive behavioural therapy
along with diazepam/lorazepam (PubMed,
Lorazepam, 2017)
Alcohol and smoking Addiction Dietary and exercise management and
psychotherapy
Constipation  Administered laxatives and dietary
fibres
 Regularly consume of plenty of water
(Tayyem , et al., 2013)
 Reduce alcohol use
C.
Dear Dr. Stephen,
The in-pharmacy medicinal analysis of Mrs. Jones reveals the pattern of high cholesterol, blood
pressure fluctuation, osteoarthritis, reflux and polypharmacy. Your patient experiences these
manifestations under the influence of the administered medication regimen that has potentially
impacted her quality of life and wellness outcomes. The patient experiences demotivation and
resultantly decreased her daily physical activity that poses serious threat to her existing health and
accordingly she experiences elevated risk of developing cardiovascular complications. Jone’s
elevated blood pressure and sustained soreness in hips and back require your immediate attention.
She appears in grief and distressed most of the times. She also experiences risk of falling and
resultant trauma.
Patient’s clinical judgement is obtained in accordance with the pharmacy intervention and warrants
further analysis under your direct supervision. Please feel free to contact me in case of any further
clarification regarding patient’s health status and related complications.
Sincerely,
Student Name

.
Bibliography
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Hydrochlorothiazide or chlorthalidone? Celeveland Clinical Journal of Medicine,
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Intensive Insulin Therapy. Endotext. Retrieved from
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Florkowski, C. (2013). HbA1c as a Diagnostic Test for Diabetes Mellitus – Reviewing the
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