Inpatient Hospital Pharmacist

Inpatient Hospital Pharmacist

Being a part of the hospital staff is an exciting and challenging undertaking in the healthcare industry. A hospital never sleeps; it’s staffed round the clock to provide the best care for the stream of patients that enter. Inside the building is a multi-faceted and highly dynamic structure held up by the desire to provide first-rate care for those that need it.
The hospital pharmacy is an integral part of a busy and energetic team, and each clinic is unique in how many pharmacists it keeps on staff. There may be a different pharmacist for the ambulatory and emergency department, one for prenatal medications, and a separate one for inpatient care. Inpatient pharmacists assist doctors and nurses with drug therapies for those admitted for inpatient treatments, and they are a necessary part of the whole team.

What is an Inpatient Hospital Pharmacist?

The inpatient hospital pharmacist prescribes, administers, and monitors the medication for people undergoing inpatient treatments. Upon admittance, the pharmacist will review patient profiles for allergies or previous reactions to drugs, duplicate therapies, or any potentially harmful partnering of drugs to minimize adverse reactions. They interact with the physicians to provide medication advice and treatment recommendations, they ensure proper dosage is being administered, and they monitor the patient’s progress. Upon discharge, the pharmacist will provide education and counseling for patients and caregivers. Inpatient pharmacists can also collaborate on any research efforts and advancements in the field of medication therapy.

Education Requirements

Like all pharmacy positions, it is recommended to obtain a PharmD and to have completed at least one residency in a hospital setting to become an inpatient pharmacist. It is also recommended to partake in continuing education courses annually, and to join any applicable organizations and initiatives. For those interested in conducting research on inpatient drug therapies, specifically IV administering and treatment, fellowships or research grants in that area of study may be available.

What’s in Store?

The hospital is constantly evolving. Research and technological advancements are pushing the healthcare industry to the brink of the latest breakthroughs, and everyone in the clinical setting plays an important role in the process. The hospital is becoming more and more specialized, each department with a stronger and narrower focus on one aspect of treatment to brighten the bigger picture: better patient outcome.
With recent progress in health care comes a higher demand for specialized workers. The need for inpatient pharmacists is on the rise and is predicted to continue that way in order to prevent medication errors and keep the patients healthy and happy. A hospital is an exciting setting for a pharmacist to work in; the range of treatments varies widely and each therapy is unique in its own way. If this sounds interesting to you, look out for any future job openings in the field of inpatient pharmacy.


Sources:
http://www.pharmacist.com/sites/default/files/files/Profile_15_hosp-staff_SDS_FINAL_090307.pdf