Implementation of an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Model in the Emergency Department.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Emergency Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Advanced pharmacy practice models are increasingly implemented to optimize patient care.
• The emergency department (ED) presents unique challenges and opportunities for pharmacist involvement.
• Quantifying the impact of pharmacists in the ED is crucial for demonstrating value and guiding future practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the clinical activities performed by pharmacists within an advanced pharmacy practice model in the ED.
• To assess the impact of these activities, including cost avoidance and medication order review.
• To evaluate the efficiency of medication verification processes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective descriptive study analyzing data from January 2015 to August 2017.
• Extracted data from electronic documentation and medical record systems.
• Calculated cost savings based on validated institutional methods.

Main Results:

• Pharmacists engaged in 4106 clinical activities, resulting in $5,387,679 in cost avoidance.
• Top activities included pharmacotherapy consults (63.3%) and medical emergency response (20.7%).
• Median medication verification turnaround time was consistently low (2-3 minutes), with 379 interventions accepted from 16,219 reviewed orders.

Conclusions:

• An advanced pharmacy practice model tailored to institutional needs was successfully implemented.
• The model enhanced pharmacists' direct patient care and practice at the top of their license.
• The model promoted safe and effective medication use within the ED.