National Pharmacy Technician Day, October 21, 1997
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National Pharmacy Technician Day, October 21, 1997 |
Did you know that pharmacy as a department provides inpatient services uninterrupted 24 hours a day with most of the staff rotating shifts: days, afternoons and midnights?
Did you know that on a daily basis pharmacists enter and review hundreds of physician orders on patient medication profiles? In addition, they review the profiles for potential drug-drug interactions, allergies, drug duplication and needed medication dosage adjustments in patients with renal insufficiency.
We are also available for pharmacokinetic consults as needed.
The pharmacists are responsible for all IV chemotherapy dose verification and preparation and neonatal intensive care parenteral nutrition solutions.
We have a pharmacist(s) attending Family Practice Ground Rounds on Thursdays. We are often asked to present a drug topic to the Family Practice residents. A pharmacist works with the outpatient diabetes education program.
Our pharmacists follow up all ADR's reported to the department. In addition, we have staff members on various committees within the institution. These committees include DUE, Pharmacy & Therapeutics, Nutrition, Pain Management, Cancer Research and Performance Improvement.
Pharmacy Technicians assist the department in medication delivery, IVPB and large volume IV preparation, narcotic inventory and delivery, and department and hospital inventory. Technicians also transfer patient medication when patients are moved from unit to unit or are discharged.
On a monthly basis, technicians perform nursing unit reviews in compliance with JCAH requirements.
In addition to the above activities, the Pharmacy Department provides drug information to physicians and nurses at MGH 24 hours a day. This information is not limited to MGH staff, but is provided to all healthcare providers in the Upper Peninsula as well as the general public.
We also staff the Upper Peninsula Poison Information Center, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Staff members also assist in the development of the revised poison handbook available in the Health Information Center.
The pharmacy provides medication routinely to MGH-affiliated facilities in the U.P. and on an emergency basis to area nursing facilities, prisons and retail pharmacies.
Within the department is the outpatient pharmacy, providing services Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to employees and non-employees. This service extends to off hours on an emergency basis only by the inpatient staff.
Stop in the pharmacy during National Pharmacy Week and say Hi. Trust me, we don't bite. All food donations will be graciously accepted (just kidding).