Emergency room pharmacists

Summary

This video highlights the role of emergency medicine pharmacists, Dr. Phil Mittler and Dr. Michelle Chang, at Community Regional Medical Center, one of California’s busiest ERs. They discuss how their expertise enhances patient care by being directly involved from the moment a patient enters the ER. Their work involves optimizing drug therapy, supporting physicians and nurses, and saving precious time, especially in critical situations. The video also emphasizes the growing importance of clinical pharmacists in emergency departments and the impact of Community's pharmacy residency program in bringing top talent to the region, further improving patient care and safety.

Takeaways

• 😀 Emergency medicine pharmacists like Dr. Phil Mler and Dr. Michelle Chang are integral to patient care, working directly with the healthcare team in the ER.
• 😀 Community Regional Medical Center is one of the busiest emergency departments in California, treating nearly 90,000 patients annually.
• 😀 The role of emergency medicine pharmacists is growing in California, with very few such professionals working in hospitals across the state.
• 😀 These pharmacists are involved in every step of patient care, including the administration of medications, improving safety, and optimizing drug therapy.
• 😀 Emergency medicine pharmacists save valuable time by preparing medications in advance and anticipating the needs of physicians in critical situations.
• 😀 Having clinical pharmacists in the emergency department reduces the workload on physicians and nurses, allowing them to focus on patient care.
• 😀 Community Regional Medical Center is the only level one trauma center in the Central Valley, making the presence of emergency medicine pharmacists crucial for high-acuity patients.
• 😀 The pharmacy residency program at Community Medical Center brings highly trained clinical pharmacists into the institution and supports their growth in specialties like ICU and infectious diseases.
• 😀 The hospital collaborates with University of California San Francisco Fresno and University of the Pacific, providing pharmacy students with hands-on experience in the emergency department.
• 😀 Dr. Mler and Dr. Chang emphasize the innovation of having emergency medicine pharmacists as part of the healthcare team, benefiting the patients and the community as a whole.

Q & A

What role do Dr. Phil Mler and Dr. Michelle Chang play in the emergency department?

Dr. Phil Mler and Dr. Michelle Chang are emergency medicine pharmacists who play a key role in patient care by providing immediate medication management and collaborating with physicians and nurses to optimize drug therapy for patients in the emergency department.

Why is the presence of emergency medicine pharmacists in emergency departments considered important?

The presence of emergency medicine pharmacists is crucial because they help optimize medication management in high-acuity situations, saving time, improving patient outcomes, and reducing the workload on physicians and nurses.

How many emergency medicine pharmacists are there in California, according to the script?

There are very few emergency medicine pharmacists in California, with Dr. Mler and Dr. Chang being part of a small group in the state.

What is the significance of Community Regional Medical Center’s emergency department in California?

Community Regional Medical Center’s emergency department is one of the busiest in California, treating nearly 90,000 patients a year, making it an ideal place to have pharmacists integrated into the emergency care team.

What makes Community Medical Center’s emergency department unique in the Central Valley?

Community Medical Center’s emergency department is unique because it is the only one in the Central Valley with clinical pharmacists specifically trained in emergency medicine, offering a higher level of care.

What specific advantage does having a pharmacist in the emergency department provide to the nursing staff?

Having a pharmacist in the emergency department allows nurses to focus more on patient care, as the pharmacist handles medication preparation, ensuring that critical drugs are available quickly without diverting the nurses' attention.

How do emergency medicine pharmacists support physicians during critical situations?

Emergency medicine pharmacists support physicians by anticipating medication needs, preparing drug doses in advance, and ensuring that medications are ready to be administered without delay, which helps save precious time during emergencies.

What impact does having a clinical pharmacist in the emergency department have on patient outcomes?

Having a clinical pharmacist in the emergency department helps improve patient outcomes by ensuring the timely and accurate administration of medications, optimizing drug therapies, and enhancing overall care quality in high-pressure, time-sensitive situations.

What does Dr. Utch say about the growth of clinical pharmacists at Community Medical Center?

Dr. Utch mentions that while there are currently only two emergency medicine pharmacists, the hospital is looking to expand its team with more highly trained clinical pharmacists across different specialties, continuing to grow with its pharmacy residency program.

What is the role of the pharmacy residency program at Community Medical Center?

The pharmacy residency program at Community Medical Center trains pharmacy students and residents, including those from UCSF and University of the Pacific, preparing them for roles in emergency medicine and other specialized pharmacy areas while offering mentorship and advanced training.