Clinical Pharmacists in Emergency Medicine

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the need for an emergency pharmacist (EPh) program, discuss the evidence showing that an EPh program is effective, and provide information and resources that can be used by hospitals considering the implementation of an EPh program. EPh programs have existed since the 1970s, but until recently, they have been rare. Their development in the emergency department (ED) is a result of the unique clinical environment that exists in the ED, which is considered high risk for adverse drug events from a systems perspective. The primary aims of the EPh program are to diminish the risks of adverse events and to reduce costs. The innovative EPh program works with the varied staff in the ED to improve medication safety and provide pharmacologic information to staff. This paper provides substantiation of the value of an EPh program and describes the details of the EPh role when optimized for patient safety.