We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Pharmacist Prescribing in Pediatric and Neonatal Acute Care: An Observational Study.
- Authors
Barton, Amanda; Dersch-Mills, Deonne; Saunders, Sydney; Mysak, Tania; Zuk, Dalyce
- Abstract
OBJECTIVE The intent of this project was to objectively describe the frequency of pharmacist prescribing in acute care pediatrics and neonatology and to determine the medications most often prescribed by pharmacists practicing in a jurisdiction that permits pharmacists' prescribing. METHODS This was a subgroup analysis of a retrospective observational study using prescribing data from an electronic medical record system used in 5 acute care hospitals (1 pediatric, 4 primarily adult but with pediatric and neonatal units) within Calgary, Alberta, Canada. RESULTS Considering orders for pediatric or neonatal patients only, there was a mean (SD) of 126 (226) prescriptions per pharmacist per year, with a wide range (1-1101 per year). Considering only the 9 clinical pharmacist full-time equivalents (FTEs) assigned to pediatrics and/or neonatology (i.e., not including dispensary pharmacist FTE), this represents 572 prescriptions per clinical pharmacist FTE per year (726 in pediatrics and 380 in neonatology). The most common medication classes on pediatric units included antiinfective agents, central nervous system agents, and gastrointestinal agents. In NICUs, blood formation, coagulation and thrombosis agents (mainly iron), electrolytes, caloric and water balance agents (primarily sodium supplements), and vitamins were also commonly prescribed by pharmacists. CONCLUSIONS As the scope of pharmacy practice expands to include prescribing, health team leadership can use these data to support incorporation of this role into practice. Prescribing pharmacists can ensure appropriate use of many medications used in acutely ill infants and children, potentially improving efficiency and quality of care.
- Subjects
PHARMACISTS; NEONATOLOGY; ACUTE medical care; ELECTRONIC health records; ANTI-infective agents; NON-medical prescribing
- Publication
Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2020, Vol 25, Issue 7, p600
- ISSN
1551-6776
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5863/1551-6776-25.7.600