The impact of emergency medicine pharmacists on medication safety for critically ill patients in the resuscitation area of an emergency department

Patients triaged to the resuscitation area of the emergency department (ED) will either have a pharmacist present during the resuscitation event or not. Patients triaged to a resuscitation bay in the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) ED during the resuscitation pharmacist’s allocated working hours will fall into the intervention group. The intervention pharmacist was a senior pharmacist who attended the resuscitation area with the ED resuscitation team in response to an eligible patient presentation to assist with medication related activities during the critical care event. The pharmacist will use local, national and international therapeutic and other medication guidelines to assist the other members of the resuscitation team with medication management activities Pharmacist roles and activities could include: medication information provision and advice, administration advice such as dilution and rate of administration, preemptive and timely supply of medication, double-check of medications before administration, documentation of allergies, therapeutic recommendations (e.g. medication choice, dose and administration), documentation of medication history and medication review to identify medication related problems and ensure medications are optimised. The pharmacist will be at the patients bedside for the duration of the acute resuscitation event or until there presence is required for another patient or their assistance is no longer required for medication related activities for the patient A retrospective review of the medical record will identify and medication errors and record interventions documented by the pharmacist