Pharmacists lead the way in nutrition prescribing innovation

Congratulations to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) pharmacists at Fiona Stanley Hospital, who have been honoured with the 2025 Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) WA Team Innovation Award for their new approach to nutrition care for patients requiring total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

In August 2024, Fiona Stanley Hospital became the first in Western Australia to introduce a pharmacist-led model for prescribing TPN.

TPN is a specialised method of feeding patients through a vein when they are unable to eat or digest food normally.

Under this new model, one of four expert ICU pharmacists support the dietician in managing each patient’s nutrition plan.

Working with senior dietitians, and ICU doctors only where needed, the team manage everything from reviewing referrals and ordering tests, to monitoring progress and adjusting nutrition as patients recover.

They also help patients transition back to regular eating and recommend any extra medications that might support their recovery.

A study of patient outcomes shows that the initiative has decreased the time patients spend in hospital and needed less days on TPN, compared to when then initiative wasn’t in place.

Staff also found less problems with electrolyte levels and staff documentation was more consistent.

The study showed that safety outcomes, including blood sugar control and survival rates, remained steady.

This change has strengthened teamwork in the ICU and given pharmacists a greater role in caring for patients with complex needs.

“This initiative has been a vital for patient care in our ICU,” said Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group Executive Director, Luke Dix.

“Empowering our pharmacists to lead TPN prescribing has not only improved outcomes for patients, but also strengthened collaboration across the care team.”

Six months after the new model was introduced, ICU doctors gave their full support to the new initiative via survey feedback.

All eight ICU consultants surveyed said they trusted the pharmacists to lead the service, and each reported saving at least an hour a day - time they could spend directly with patients or managing the busy ICU environment.

The team also developed a new electronic referral form, making it easier to track and manage patient care.

The award-winning team includes Joanne Lennon, Donna Scott, Jessica Xu, Emma Fox, Sharon Selvanayakam and Rachel Thorson.

Their work has not only improved care for ICU patients but also set a new standard for pharmacy practice in hospitals.

Well done to the team for their outstanding contribution to innovation and excellence in patient-centred care.

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