Pharmacy Department

The pharmacy department provides 24-hour inpatient services through the central, surgery, and oncology pharmacies.  Inpatient pharmacies support distributive and clinical pharmacy services provided by clinical pharmacists, clinical specialist and pharmacy technicians. The inpatient pharmacies provide 24-hour service to more than 500 inpatient beds, and provide decentralized unit pharmacist coverage. The two outpatient pharmacies support various outpatient clinics, hospital discharges through the meds to beds and mail order prescriptions.

Clinical Pharmacy services are provided for inpatients and outpatients at all Ascension St. Vincent hospitals and clinics.  The clinical specialists work closely with the medical teams to provide quality cost-effective pharmacotherapeutic recommendations; minimize and prevent adverse drug reactions and interactions; and provide patient education and counseling.  Additional services offered through collaborative drug therapy management agreements with the medical staff include:

• Pharmacokinetic dosing and therapeutic drug monitoring services
• Total Parenteral Nutrition dosing and monitoring
• Renal drug dosing recommendations
• Pain management and medication reconciliation consult services
• Anti-infective therapy recommendations and monitoring
• Inpatient and outpatient anticoagulation dosing, monitoring, and education services
• Wellness outpatient services
• Disease state management

Clinical specialists lead the development, implementation, evaluation, and enforcement of drug use guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols.  They help to ensure appropriate use of high-risk medications, serve on quality improvement committees, and initiate quality improvement projects.