PHARMACIST’S ROLE IN URGENT AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

To affirm that pharmacists should participate in planning and providing emergency treatment team services; further,

To advocate that pharmacists participate in decision-making about the medications and supplies used in medical emergencies; further,

To advocate that pharmacists serve in all emergency responses, and that those pharmacists receive appropriate training and maintain appropriate certifications.

Rationale

Pharmacists have a leadership role in many hospitals in planning for emergency treatment team services. Data from the 2021 ASHP National Survey indicates that approximately 70% of hospitals have pharmacist participation in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), or code, teams and 36% have pharmacist participation on rapid response teams. This role includes developing policy on the contents of code carts and other supplies as well as establishing the role of the pharmacist in supporting these services. The literature demonstrates that pharmacists can make significant contributions to CPR and other emergency response teams as medication-use leaders and as participants, and there is evidence that better patient outcomes result when pharmacists participate. Pharmacists participating in this role should receive appropriate training and certification (e.g., Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiopulmonary Life support, and Pediatric Acute Life Support). The ASHP Guidelines on Emergency Medicine Pharmacist Services reference many of the patient care services that pharmacists provide during urgent and emergency situations including but not limited to direct patient care activities, medication information, resuscitation, high-alert medication handling procedures, medication selection and preparation, medication order review and medication therapy monitoring, patient and caregiver education, and medication reconciliation.