Pharmacy Daily | Boost pharmacist ratios in EDs: SHPA

INCREASING the number of pharmacists working in emergency departments (EDs) could cut costs and improve patient outcomes, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) believes.

In a paper published in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research, SHPA Emergency Medicine Leadership Committee past Chair, Susan Welch, has called on hospitals to boost pharmacist staffing levels to one for every 10 patients in emergency settings.

"The provision of emergency medicine pharmacist services improves healthcare outcomes through timely and accurate best possible medication history documentation; liaison between emergency and other departments on medicine-related issues such as stock shortages or substitutions; early involvement of the pharmacist in decision making and administration of time-critical medications and reductions in the total cost of care," she said.

"Where there is the delivery of emergency services, or where patients are admitted to short stay acute medical assessment units for less than 48 hours, we recommend one full time equivalent pharmacist for clinical pharmacy services, per day, for every 10 patients at risk of medication related problems."

Welch noted that pharmacists could improve antimicrobial stewardship, support acute pain management and provide medication management plans to ensure continuity of care.

SHPA CEO, Kristin Michaels, said there was compelling evidence to support the recruitment of emergency medicine pharmacist in hospital settings.

"The addition of a clinical pharmacist within an emergency department has been proven to reduce the number of medicines omissions and dosing delays, and a systematic literature review from 2009-16 demonstrated the role of the emergency pharmacist led to a diverse range of positive patient outcomes," she said.

"2016 research showed 40% of Australian hospitals do not have a dedicated emergency medicine pharmacy service."