University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Department of Pharmaceutical Care
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
First Published: 2000
Last Revised: December 2004

How are pharmacists involved in your care?

They. . .

• Prepare your medications accurately and in a timely manner.
• Meet with you to discuss allergies and how you take your medications.
• Answer your questions about your medications.
• Review each of your medications to minimize adverse effects and avoid potential serious drug interactions.
• Work with your health care team to monitor the effects of your medications during our hospital stay.
• Teach you about your medications before you go home.

Clinical pharmacists serving you while you're hospitalized oversee all aspects of medication use, from the operating rooms to the intensive care units. Pharmacists advise physicians and nurses by providing drug information and making sure you or your loved one receive the most appropriate drug at the proper dose and at the correct time. Pharmacists are also involved in the training of pharmacy students--pharmacists of the future. Finally, the pharmacist will assist you by providing counseling about your take-home medications.

IV admixture pharmacists compound solutions for intravenous (IV) use by patients. These solutions contain medications such as antibiotics, chemotherapy, and nutrition. These medications are given intravenously when oral administration would not be effective or when a patient is not able to take oral medications or food. Medications given IV must be sterile (free of bacterial or other contaminants). Therefore, these products are prepared in a carefully controlled clean environment to assure that the doses are correct and the products are sterile.

Clinical pharmacists serving you as an outpatient will be monitoring your medications in several ambulatory clinics and in the hospital's Ambulatory Care Pharmacies. Pharmacists stationed in the clinics will work with your doctor to ensure you receive drug therapy that is the most appropriate for you; advise clinic staff about new medications that you may receive; and assist with general health maintenance issues that may arise (such as smoking cessation or women's health topics).

If you so choose, pharmacists located in one of the Ambulatory Care Pharmacies will prepare and dispense supplies of medications for you to take home when you leave the hospital. During this process, they will update your medication history; offer assistance with medication-related problems; and thoroughly review your prescriptions for proper dosing, possible interactions with other drugs or food, and clear and complete instructions. Finally, pharmacists will counsel you about the appropriate use of your medications and answer questions you may have about taking your medications.

Why do your medications look different in the hospital than at home?

Hospital pharmacists select the highest quality medications available at the best price to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Because of this, our pharmacy may have medications that are made by a different manufacturer than those dispensed by your local pharmacy. This should not prevent you from talking to your pharmacist if you have any questions about your medications.

To prevent possible medication errors, know what medications you take and why you take them.*

• Ask about the purpose of the medication and ask for written information about it. Also inquire about the side effects of the medication.
• If you do not recognize a medication, verify that it is for you. Ask about oral medications before swallowing, and read the contents of bags of IV fluids. If you're not well enough to do this, ask an advocate to do this for you. 
• If you are given an IV, ask the nurse how long it should take the liquid to "run out. " Tell the nurse if it doesn't seem to be dripping properly (that it is too fast or too slow). 
• Whenever you are going to receive a new medication, tell your doctors and nurses about allergies you have, or negative reactions you have had to medications in the past.
• If you are taking multiple medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to take those medications together. This holds true for vitamins, herbal supplements and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, too.
• Make sure you can read the handwriting on any prescription written by your doctor for you to have filled. If you can't read it, the pharmacist may not be able to read it either.

* "Speak Up," Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 2002.