Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry: Open Access
Open Access

Role of Hospital Pharmacy in Health Care System

Mariusz Zahbi^{* *}Correspondence: Mariusz Zahbi, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Dharan, Nepal, Email:

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Description

Hospital pharmacy is a specific field of pharmacy that is incorporated into the care of a medical center. These include various centers such as a hospital, outpatient clinic, drugdependency facility, poison control center, the drug information center of the residential care facility.

The profession of hospital involves choosing, preparing, storing of drugs, compounding and dispensing the medications for patients in a medical environment. Another important area is the provision of advice to both the patients and the other health professionals about the safe and effective use of the medicines.

The primary assignment of hospital pharmacy is to manage the use of medications in the hospitals and the other medical centers. Goals may include the selection, prescription, procuration, delivery, administration and the effect of medications to optimize the patient outcomes. It is important to make sure that the right patient, dose, route of administration, time, drug, information and the documentation are respected when any medication is used.

Differences with community pharmacy

Although many of the responsibilities of a hospital pharmacist are similar to the community pharmacist who works in a same community setting, there are certain distinctive differences. These may include:

• Increased interaction with the prescribers and the other health professionals

• Better input in prescribing decisions about the drugs and administration

• Larger team of the pharmacists working together in the same institution

• Enhanced access to medical records of patients

However, the patient contact for the hospital pharmacists is often much less when compared to a pharmacist working in the community pharmacist. Hospital pharmacies also commonly stock a large variety of the medications, including those for the specialized purposes and that may only be indicated in a controlled medical setting.

Compounding pharmaceuticals

Hospital pharmacists are responsible for the compounding of many of the pharmaceutical products for patient administration. Some of these formulations need to be sterile, such as if they are given in Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) or for other drugs given intravenously, such as some of the antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents. This process is complex and requires pharmacists to be highly trained in the production of the quality goods, in an addition to adequately equipped facilities.

Patient interaction

The Hospital pharmacists more often apply their knowledge of medications in the medication plan of a specific patient and evaluate the appropriate dose, side effects, efficacy and the drug interactions. When needed, the clinical pharmacist may also discuss any issues and make relevant recommendations to the physician mainly responsible for prescribing patient medications to make sure that the medications are utilized in an optimal manner.

In many of the cases, the clinical pharmacist with work directly with patients to help them and to understand the medications they take and encourage them to take the medications as directed.

Organizations in hospital pharmacy

The members of the Federation of International Pharmacists are encouraged to share their experience and to identify and discuss the global issues that can be improved in hospital pharmacy. This may include the development of new guidelines or standards of the practice, including reviewing the new guidelines suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO).

There are vast organizations for hospital pharmacists in each country. The aim when the organization members meet together is to discuss current issues in the hospital pharmacy and to create solutions and strategies for the future of the profession.