Using pharmacists to optimize patient outcomes and costs in the ED

Participation of hospital clinical pharmacists in the care of inpatients is widespread, often encouraged by the dicta promulgated by regulatory bodies. For years, clinical pharmacists have ventured out of the pharmacy to participate in rounds and, otherwise, in the care of patients on hospital floors and in intensive care units. In fact, it has been well documented in many research studies published in the last 20 years that having pharmacists prospectively involved with orders generates significant cost savings for the hospital and benefit to patients. Until recently, the emergency department (ED) seemed to be a hectic environment that would be inhospitable to the careful, meticulous, and usually deliberate process of many clinical pharmacists. The potential benefits were recognized, but the pace and costs seemed prohibitive. The addition of pharmacists in the ED has reduced medication errors and provided numerous other benefits that will be discussed in this article. We will show that recent data indicate that using an ED clinical pharmacist promotes patient safety and is cost-effective.