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Pharmaceutical Services: St. Joseph Pharmacy Residency

A progressive pharmacy practice in a community hospital setting

A progressive matrix of pharmacy services have been integrated into a multidisciplinary approach to patient care at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. A few of these service lines include:

Critical Care Services

With more than 55 critical care inpatient beds, cardiac surgery, and an active Emergency Services Department, St. Joseph Medical Center provides state-of-the-art, high-tech medical care. Pharmacists play a visible and vital role on the critical care team. Responsibilities include daily rounding with the interdisciplinary team, management of nutritional needs, response as part of the cardiopulmonary arrest team, and medication education, which can include CABG patients and warfarin education prior to discharge.

Emergency Medicine Services

The complete spectrum of clinical pharmacy is provided for patients treated in the Emergency Services Department. Pharmacists’ clinical skills are used to offer a wide variety of therapy interventions and team education on issues. Emergency Services Department pharmacists play an active role in emergency code participation, medication administration, drug toxicity consultations, stroke care and trauma team.

Internal Medicine Program

Pharmacists are involved in general medical surgical, ambulatory, and special care unit experiences. Direct patient care and education are daily practice responsibilities of the pharmacists. Other responsibilities include electrolyte and nutrition consultations, antibiotic therapy interventions, anticoagulation dosing, pain management, transitions of care interventions, and much more.

Oncology Services

Clinical oncology has expanded dramatically in the past few years, and pharmacy has been instrumental in its growth. Oncology pharmacists exercise prescriptive authority for antiemetics and analgesics under protocol, and are involved in ongoing clinical research. This service line supports inpatient and outpatient clinics and, as chemotherapy experts, are recognized as a go-to resource for physicians and nurses.

Ambulatory Pharmacy Services

Pharmacists practice high-level care in the patient centered medical home under prescriptive authority protocols, providing disease state management. Pharmacists also play an active role in Virginia Mason Franciscan Health’s anticoagulation clinics, where they may independently assess, adjust and monitor pharmaceutical care.

NICU

With 23 neonatal intensive care beds and one of the busiest Labor and Delivery departments in the South Sound, St. Joseph Medical Center provides state-of-the-art, high-tech medical care to mothers and neonates as early as 28 weeks. Pharmacists’ clinical skills offer a wide variety of therapy interventions for neonates and mothers and play a visible and vital role in the NICU care team. NICU pharmacist responsibilities include daily rounding with the interdisciplinary team, management of nutritional and electrolyte needs, response as part of the neonatal code team, antibiotic therapy interventions, neonatal medication dosing, pain management, medication education, and much more.

Pharmacy staff and commitment to education

A commitment to education is key to the continued professional growth of the department. Staff are encouraged to submit posters and case studies to state, local and national meetings; and numerous publications have resulted. Leadership of professional organizations and the advancement of pharmaceutical services are also highly valued. Pharmacy education sessions are conducted in a variety of venues and our service line care groups drive the education and development of staff.