Published December 8, 2023
Most patients know that doctors and nurses play important roles in the treatment they receive during a hospital stay. However, they may not know that the hospital’s pharmacist is also an important member of the healthcare team.
Pharmacists ensure the medicines needed during your hospital stay are safe and appropriate for your care. They work side by side with your doctors and nurses to help provide the best treatments so you can recover quickly and return home. For example, a hospital pharmacist often works with doctors and helps them to order the proper medicine and dose. They may also recommend a different form of medicine (e.g., a liquid instead of a capsule), which may work better or be easier to tolerate. They will also monitor for allergies to medicines or check to see that the new medicine does not have a bad interaction with another medicine you are taking. In addition, a pharmacist is always available to answer any questions the doctors and nurses may have, and they will even answer your questions!
During a hospital stay, you may have questions about why a medicine has been stopped, or why a new medicine has been prescribed and how to take it when you go home. Sometimes, the new medicine may require learning a new skill. For example, you may need to learn how to inject a medicine, such as insulin, by using a syringe. Or you may have trouble breathing and need to inhale the medicine using a device called a nebulizer. A hospital pharmacist can show you how to properly take medicines using these devices and ensure you understand the directions.
Hospital pharmacists are advocates for patients and a valuable resource for all healthcare professionals. If you or a loved one is hospitalized, remember that you can ask for a pharmacist to come to your room to answer any questions you may have about the medicines you are taking.
