The pharmacist's role in risk management

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Administration
• Patient Safety
• Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

• Hospitals face increasing patient-associated risks due to healthcare advancements.
• The Joint Commission emphasizes patient outcomes, necessitating a focus on risk management.
• Healthcare professionals must recognize their integral role in managing hospital risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical role of risk management in hospitals.
• To underscore the evolving responsibilities of healthcare professionals, particularly pharmacists, in risk management.
• To explore how pharmacy practices contribute to improving patient outcomes and reducing risks.

Main Methods:

• Review of Joint Commission policies and their impact on risk management.
• Analysis of current pharmacy practices, including Drug Utilization Evaluation (DUE) and Quality Assurance (QA) programs.
• Examination of pharmacists' involvement in adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting and peer review.

Main Results:

• Pharmacists are well-positioned to assist risk managers due to their involvement in DUE, QA, and ADR analysis.
• Pharmacy participation in retrospective analysis helps establish guidelines to decrease future patient risks.
• Future drug development trends will enhance the pharmacist's role in drug selection for safety and cost-effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacy's established practices align with the growing need for robust risk management in hospitals.
• Pharmacists are valuable resources for risk managers, contributing to improved patient care and safety.
• Continued development of pharmacy practice standards will ensure the profession's dedication to enhancing patient outcomes and minimizing risks.