Improved pharmacy services through pharmacist participation in medical rounds

The participation by pharmacists in medical rounds in a 250-bed pediatric hospital with centralized unit dose drug distribution and i.v. admixture programs is discussed. A redistribution of responsibilities enabled pharmacists to attend physician work rounds on each medical service. Nursing-pharmacy rounds were set up for services which had no scheduled physician work rounds. As a result, the amount of medication waste due to late order changes, which had previously been a problem, was reduced by 0.54 cents per patient day. Pharmacist participation in medical rounds increased his clinical expertise and supplied him with the clinical data necessary to make more informed recommendations to physicians.