RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Medical and nursing staff highly value clinical pharmacists in the emergency department
JF Emergency Medicine Journal
JO Emerg Med J
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine
SP 716
OP 718
DO 10.1136/emj.2006.044313
VO 24
IS 10
A1 Rollin J Fairbanks
A1 James M Hildebrand
A1 Karen E Kolstee
A1 Sandra M Schneider
A1 Manish N Shah
YR 2007
UL http://emj.bmj.com/content/24/10/716.abstract
AB Despite the potential impact that emergency pharmacist (EPh) programmes could have on medication safety and quality of care in the emergency department (ED), very few programmes exist. This descriptive survey study aimed to assess staff perceptions of an EPh programme. A random sample of medical and nursing staff in an academic medical centre ED with a dedicated EPh programme received a 26-item survey (82% return rate). 99% of respondents felt the EPh improves quality of care, 96% feel they are an integral part of the team, and 93% had consulted the EPh at least a few times during their last five shifts. Staff felt that the EPh should be available for consults, attend resuscitations, and check orders. This study reinforced the value of many specific duties of the EPh programme and found that doctors and nurses overwhelmingly favour the presence of an EPh in the ED, frequently seek their advice, and feel they improve quality of care. Staff acceptance is clearly not a barrier to implementation of this programme.