Roles Health-System Pharmacists Can Play to Improve Patient Outcomes and Safety

Roles Health-System Pharmacists Can Play to Improve Patient Outcomes and Safety With the changing climate of healthcare focused on cost reduction and patient-centered care, there are many exciting opportunities available for pharmacists within today's hospital setting. In addition, with the advancement of medicine and the development of more complex medication regimens, there exists a demand for capable health-system practitioners versed in the safe and effective delivery of medication. There have been numerous studies that have shown that the inclusion of a pharmacist within an interdisciplinary healthcare team leads to increased patient safety and ultimately a reduction in healthcare costs due to improved patient outcomes. This discussion will focus on three specific opportunities that exist for health-system pharmacists to take a greater role in improving patient safety within the hospital setting. First, the value of the medical home model and pharmacists within the interdisciplinary healthcare team will be highlighted. Secondly, case-studies will be discussed that show the benefit that pharmacists play in the management of high-risk medication regimens such as anticoagulation therapies. Lastly, with the advent of increasing technologies within the hospital setting, pharmacists will be required to take a greater role in the development and implementation of IT systems within the hospital environment.