Compounded medications in a hospital setting: patient counseling and staff education

Patient counseling can be a challenge in a hospital facility, particularly for the compounding pharmacist. Since most patient education is provided by nurses and physicians, pharmacists must be diligent in educating the hospital staff about medications so that the patient or cargiver receives adequate counseling to improve compliance with the pharmaceutical care plan, to play an active role in monitoring for progress or adverse effects, and to prevent hospital readmission. this article discusses the guidelines and standards that have been established by the American society of Health-System Pharmacists, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and the United States Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc. in the areas of patient consultation and staff education.