Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2013 Feb;61(2):209-14.e1.
doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2012.04.011. Epub 2012 May 24.

Emergency department discharge prescription interventions by emergency medicine pharmacists

Joseph L Cesarz  1 , Aaron L Steffenhagen, James Svenson, Azita G Hamedani
Affiliations

Emergency department discharge prescription interventions by emergency medicine pharmacists

Joseph L Cesarz et al. Ann Emerg Med. 2013 Feb.

Abstract

Study objective: We determine the rate and details of interventions associated with emergency medicine pharmacist review of discharge prescriptions for patients discharged from the emergency department (ED). Additionally, we evaluate care providers' satisfaction with such services provided by emergency medicine pharmacists.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study in the ED of an academic medical center that serves both adult and pediatric patients. Details of emergency medicine pharmacist interventions on discharge prescriptions were compiled with a standardized form. Interventions were categorized as error prevention or optimization of therapy. The staff of the ED was surveyed related to the influence and satisfaction of this new emergency medicine pharmacist-provided service.

Results: The 674 discharge prescriptions reviewed by emergency medicine pharmacists during the study period included 602 (89.3%) for adult patients and 72 (10.7%) for pediatric patients. Emergency medicine pharmacists intervened on 68 prescriptions, resulting in an intervention rate of 10.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.0% to 12.7%). The intervention rate was 8.5% (95% CI 6.4% to 11.1%) for adult prescriptions and 23.6% for pediatric prescriptions (95% CI 14.7% to 35.3%) (difference 15.1%; 95% CI 5.1% to 25.2%). There were a similar number of interventions categorized as error prevention and optimization of medication therapy, 37 (54%) and 31 (46%), respectively. More than 95% of survey respondents believed that the new pharmacist services improved patient safety, optimized medication regimens, and improved patient satisfaction.

Conclusion: Emergency medicine pharmacist review of discharge prescriptions for discharged ED patients has the potential to significantly improve patient care associated with suboptimal prescriptions and is highly valued by ED care providers.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
EM pharmacist intervention documentation form.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Aspden P, Wolcott JA, Bootman LR, editors. Committee on Identifying and Preventing Medication Errors, Institute of Medicine. Preventing Medication Errors: Quality Chasm Series. Institute of Medicine. Washington, DC: National Academic Press; 2006.
    1. Birkmeyer JD, Dimick JB. Leapfrog safety standards: potential benefits of universal adoption. The Leapfrog Group; Washington, DC: 2004.
    1. Kohn LT, Corrigan JM, Donaldson MD, editors. Committee on Quality of Health Care in America, Institute of Medicine. To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System. Washington, DC: National Academic Press; 2000. - PubMed
    1. Zed PJ, Abu-Laban RB, Balen RM, et al. Incidence, severity and preventability of medication-related visits to the emergency department: a prospective study. CMAJ. 2008;178:1563–1569. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Rozich JD, Resar RK. Medication safety: one organization’s approach to the challenge. J Clin Outcome Manag. 2001;8:27–34.

Publication types