Pharmacist involvement in emergency room services

Abstract

Emergency rooms providing primary health care services continue to expand, especially in community hospitals, where practicing hospital pharmacists are finding opportunities for growth such as administrative planning, provision of drug and poison information to the emergency room staff, and direct involvement in "codes". Coordination with the community pharmacist can assure proper dispensing of "emergency room take-home meds" and counseling of patients. Funding sources to expand pharmacy services may exist in traditional dispensing, administration of injectable drugs, qualitative drug screens, and grant or educational monies.