Rx Note

Introduction A few weeks ago at work, I was complaining to a colleague that the latest edition of the Garis Panduan Kaunseling Ubat-ubatan, 2025 essentially just copied product leaflet information and compiled it into a checklist. When assessing provisional registered pharmacists (PRPs), I find myself in a deep dilemma regarding how much detail we actually expect them to memorize, and how practical and useful it is to memorize those facts. She pointed out the real reason behind this: authorities realize the newer generation seldom studies beyond what is explicitly provided. Therefore, the current approach is to hand them the material in as much detail as possible, regardless of whether they can fully grasp it. I was stunned for a moment. For too long, I had been complaining about the system while neglecting to see my own ignorance. My own frustration and agony had completely taken hold of me. The Unwinnable Race Against AI Over the past few months, I feel I have slowed down and starte...

Introduction In clinical operations, a patient complaint rarely stems from a single source. It is fundamentally dual-natured, combining a practical issue with an underlying emotional experience: The Practical Problem: Operational friction such as extended waiting times, medication stockouts, or dispensing errors. The Emotional Problem: Vulnerability driven by fear, frustration, and the sense of being unheard. To manage both dimensions effectively, healthcare professionals must combine proactive frameworks, structured de-escalation protocols, and assertive boundary-setting. Proactive Engagement: The AIDET Framework Executing the AIDET framework at every patient touchpoint sets clear expectations early, preventing minor delays from escalating into major grievances: Acknowledge: Greet the patient by name with eye contact to create an immediate connection. Introduce: State your name, role, and direct responsibility in their care process. Duration: Provide accurate time estimates for p...

Introduction Many healthcare professionals find it challenging to change people's long-standing behaviours that pose significant health risks. Even when presented with facts and figures, individuals often persist in harmful behaviours (e.g. smoking, heavy drinking) or fail to adopt healthy lifestyle (e.g. taking medications as prescribed or exercising regularly). This can lead to frustration when advice is ignored or contested. However, in reality, behaviour change cannot occur without the individual themselves recognizing the need to do so. Motivational interviewing is a technique that aims to motivate people to change by balancing following (good listening) and directing (giving information and advice). Instead of acting authoritatively, motivational interviewing techniques involve a respectful and curious approach to empower individuals to change by drawing out their own meaning, importance and capacity for change. Through this collaborative process, we help patients identify th...

Introduction Years ago, when internet speeds were slow and disk storage was scarce, archiving and extracting files was standard practice - especially when transferring files or sending emails. The tool most of us were familiar with back then was WinRAR , which introduced the proprietary RAR format. Years later, 7-Zip challenged its dominance. Today, most operating systems and Android devices come equipped with built-in tools to handle standard ZIP files. However, gaps still remain - specifically when dealing with password-encrypted archives or proprietary formats like RAR. Due to privacy and security concerns, I frequently protect archived files with a passphrase. To avoid relying on heavy third-party software just to open or create these files, I built RxZip , a client-side Progressive Web App (PWA) . Features Built as a fully client-side PWA, RxZip handles archive creation and extraction 100% offline and privately, without uploading any data to a server. Native ZIP operations (both ...

Introduction The four leading evidence-based clinical resources widely utilized by healthcare professionals are: UpToDate DynaMed BMJ Best Practice ClinicalKey NOTE: All four resources require a paid subscription, though institutional access is common. UpToDate Nearly 30 years ago, Dr. Burton "Bud" Rose sought a way to update his nephrology textbook, Clinical Physiology of Acid-Base and Electrolyte Disorders , more rapidly. When his publisher declined to digitize the book, he created the software himself, leading to the birth of UpToDate . Among point-of-care tools, UpToDate covers the broadest range of topics and incorporate Lexidrug monographs and interaction tools directly into its database. Although the content is comprehensive and highly detailed, its length can make it challenging to read through during time-sensitive situations. However, it now features UpToDate Expert AI , which delivers fast, evidence-based answers grounded in expert-authored medical content. In ...

Introduction Pharmacists play a vital role in providing accurate drug information to patients and other healthcare professionals. As technology advances, it is increasingly common for pharmacists to utilize several medical mobile applications for daily works. NOTE: All the hyperlinks below are for Android devices. Malaysia Localized Apps MyFormulary A progressive web app that provides drug information on the latest Ministry of Health Medicines Formulary (MOHMF) in Malaysia. Brand name search is not available. MIMS Malaysia MIMS Malaysia requires internet access. Antimicrobial QR Provides an interactive, offline search experience for both the Malaysian National Antimicrobial Guideline (NAG) and the Ministry of Health Medicines Formulary (MOHMF) . CPG Malaysia An app created to help medical professionals to obtain and read CPGs easily. MyUbat An offical app developed by Ministry of Health to help verify FarmaTag hologram and apply pharmacy value-added services at government health c...

Introduction As a vibe coder, I have the autonomy to continuously refine my PWA tools - whether that means enhancing features or redesigning the underlying logic. While RxReader allows users to upload TXT, PDF, EPUB, or DOCX files for a custom reading view, RxBook serves a different purpose. Powered by a Node script that leverages the Mammoth library, RxBook seamlessly converts heading-styled Word documents into a polished web layout. Unlike RxReader , RxBook functions as a digital library for sharing my own personal works rather than hosting user uploads. Features Even though the source Word documents are inherently secure since I am the sole contributor, safety remains a priority. Content is sanitized against an explicit allowlist using isomorphic-dompurify , parsed into static JSON files, and optionally encrypted via AES-256 (validated through a strict Zod schema). To discourage unauthorized redistribution, the client side incorporates light defensive measures: CSS rules disab...