Definition:
Hospital Pharmacy refers to the pharmacy services within hospitals that differentiate it from other types of pharmacies, like retail or community pharmacies.
These pharmacies provide a complex variety of services to meet the medication needs of hospitalized patients.
Functions of Hospital Pharmacy:
1. Drug Dispensing:
This is the core function.
Hospital pharmacists prepare and dispense medications prescribed by doctors for inpatients.
2. Clinical Services:
Pharmacists play an active role in patient care by advising medical staff on medication choices and dosages.
They often monitor patients for drug interactions, side effects, and other drug-related issues.
3. Drug Information:
They provide drug information to healthcare professionals and patients to ensure the safe and effective use of medications.
4. Manufacturing:
Some hospital pharmacies prepare medications on-site, especially those that are not commercially available or need to be tailor-made for patients, like certain intravenous solutions or pediatric doses.
5. Quality Control:
This involves checking and ensuring that medications are of the highest quality.
6. Drug Procurement:
Hospital pharmacies are responsible for purchasing the required drugs in sufficient quantity and keeping track of inventory levels.
7. Drug Storage:
Proper storage is vital to ensure the efficacy and safety of medications.
This includes maintaining the right temperature, humidity, and other conditions.
8. Research & Education:
Hospital pharmacists may engage in clinical research or provide education and training to other healthcare professionals and pharmacy students.
