Critical care clinical pharmacists make a difference in ICU care
Patients suffering from thromboembolic or infarction-related events who wound up being cared for in the intensive care unit were less likely to die, had shorter hospital stays, and had reduced medical costs if they were treated in ICUs with critical care clinical pharmacists on hand, reports the July Pharmacotherapy. The study used Medicare data reported from September 1, 2004 through August 31, 2005. Of the 292hospitals that reported patients with thromboembolic or infarction-related events, just over half employed critical care pharmacists (54.1%).
Those ICUs that did not have clinical pharmacists staffing them had:
- 37% higher mortality
- 14.8% longer ICU stays
- More than $215 million in extra Medicare costs
So what does this all mean? The study’s authors recommend greater integration of the pharmacist with intensive care patients’ care plan. I think the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) would agree.
About the Author: Heather Comak is a Managing Editor at HCPro, Inc., where she is the editor of the monthly publication Briefings on Patient Safety, as well as patient safety-related books and audio conferences. She is also is the Assistant Director of the Association for Healthcare Accreditation Professionals.
Contact Heather by e-mailing hcomak@hcpro.com
