Providing clinical pharmacy services in an AIDS--oncology ambulatory-care clinic

The activities of a pharmacist in an ambulatory-care AIDS-oncology clinic are described. In December 1984, the chief of the AIDS Activities Division of San Francisco General Hospital's Department of Medicine hired a clinical pharmacist to develop the pharmacokinetics sections of investigational drug protocols, provide drug therapy consultations, and supervise the reorganization of the drug storage and inventory system. Since joining the clinic staff, the pharmacist has become active in a variety of clinical, research, and educational activities. The pharmacist conducts weekly medication refill clinics and developed drug information sheets for clinic patients and health-care professionals. The pharmacist also supervises timely collection of blood samples for serum drug concentration determinations and helps to prepare the investigational drugs for dispensing. The pharmacist developed policies and procedures for the safe handling of antineoplastic agents and standardized the accountability procedures for investigational drugs. The pharmacist also serves as a liaison between the clinic and the hospital's department of pharmacy and as a preceptor of pharmacy students and residents. A clinical pharmacist can make an important contribution to the research and patient-care activities in an AIDS-oncology clinic.