The demand for high-quality patient care has never been greater. A large number of factors affect the provision of healthcare, including the aging population, more advanced medications, high patient expectations, healthcare infrastructure, as well as adequate and skilled personnel.

In primary care, the role of the physician is crucial in providing this care, but, primarily due to the time required, other models of service delivery are being adopted in the United Kingdom and other developed countries. This leads to the dissolution of traditional boundaries of care between physicians, nurses, and pharmacists. Certain activities and actions, once considered the responsibility of the physician, are now performed by nurses and pharmacists, as the scope of their practice expands: in the pharmacy, the general public can meet everyday healthcare needs without visiting the physician.

Recent changes allow community pharmacists to manage and address a broader range of conditions and are called upon to demonstrate that they are capable professionals and sufficiently reliable to take on this additional responsibility. Therefore, higher levels of knowledge and understanding are required regarding common medical conditions. They must be able to recognize signs and symptoms and apply an evidence-based approach to treatments.

This book aims to provide a more in-depth picture of less severe conditions and how to differentiate them from more threatening pathologies that may manifest in a similar way. The book is intended for all non-medical personnel in healthcare, but primarily for pharmacists, undergraduate students, and experienced professionals.

Contents

• Useful websites
• Preface
• Introduction
• How to use this book
• Making the diagnosis
• Respiratory system
• Ophthalmology
• Ear conditions
• Central nervous system
• Women's health
• Gastroenterology
• Dermatology
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Pediatrics
• Orders for special products
• Abbreviations
• Glossary
• Index