Asad E Patanwala1, Daniel P Hays. 1. Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin, Tucson, AZ 85721-0207, USA. patanwala@pharmacy.arizona.edu
Abstract
PURPOSE: The interventions of a clinical pharmacist on an emergency department (ED) trauma response team were studied. METHODS: The study site was an academic, tertiary care hospital designated as a level 1 trauma center, with a clinical pharmacist present in the ED 40 hours per week. For a two-month period, interventions by the pharmacist in trauma cases were documented in an electronic quality-improvement database. RESULTS: A total of 304 interventions were recorded; the most common were dosage recommendations (60%) and provision of drug information (27%). The top five drug classes involved were analgesics, sedatives, antimicrobials, vaccines, and fluids. In 83% of the interventions, the pharmacist documented involvement in facilitating drug administration. CONCLUSION: A pharmacist participating on the ED trauma response team commonly provided dosage recommendations and drug information, facilitated drug administration, and optimized sedation, analgesia, and antimicrobial therapy.
PURPOSE: The interventions of a clinical pharmacist on an emergency department (ED) trauma response team were studied. METHODS: The study site was an academic, tertiary care hospital designated as a level 1 trauma center, with a clinical pharmacist present in the ED 40 hours per week. For a two-month period, interventions by the pharmacist in trauma cases were documented in an electronic quality-improvement database. RESULTS: A total of 304 interventions were recorded; the most common were dosage recommendations (60%) and provision of drug information (27%). The top five drug classes involved were analgesics, sedatives, antimicrobials, vaccines, and fluids. In 83% of the interventions, the pharmacist documented involvement in facilitating drug administration. CONCLUSION: A pharmacist participating on the ED trauma response team commonly provided dosage recommendations and drug information, facilitated drug administration, and optimized sedation, analgesia, and antimicrobial therapy.