Pharmacist empowerment: taking practice guidelines to the next level (Part 2)

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Health Services Research
• Pharmacy Practice

Background:

• Institutional drug-use protocols are critical for patient safety and cost-effectiveness.
• Pharmacist involvement in protocol management can optimize medication therapy.
• St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital implemented specific pharmacist-driven protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of pharmacist control over institutional drug-use protocols.
• To evaluate pharmacist involvement in IV to oral dosage conversion monitoring.
• To assess pharmacist screening for parenteral ketorolac dosing.

Main Methods:

• Review of pharmacist-led IV to oral dosage conversion flagging and monitoring.
• Analysis of pharmacist screening for parenteral ketorolac dosing.
• Case study of protocols at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital.

Main Results:

• Pharmacist involvement in drug-use protocols demonstrates potential for cost reduction.
• Direct pharmacist control enhances the quality of patient care.
• Specific protocols examined include medication conversions and ketorolac dosing.

Conclusions:

• Empowering pharmacists in drug-use protocols leads to improved patient care and cost savings.
• Pharmacist-managed protocols are effective in optimizing medication use.
• The study supports expanded pharmacist responsibility in hospital drug management.