Clinical pharmacists' contribution to patient care on a gynecological unit

A retrospective study of the contributions of clinical pharmacists on a gynecological unit was undertaken, based on an examination of the clinical pharmacists' interventions in and recommendations for drug therapy. Intervention or recommendations were classified as to type and as to probable result had the pharmacist not intervened or made recommendations. Over an eight-month period, the clinical pharmacist intervened in or made recommendation in 227 instances (0.8% of all medication orders). It was considered that two of the orders would probably have caused death had they been carried out, six could have caused toxicity and possible death, and 39 could have led to serious toxicity. The quality of patient care seemed to have been positively affected by having the clinical pharmacist in the patient care area.