Evaluate the Effect of an Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist on Health Care and Anesthesia Staff Satisfaction

Abstract

Background: In recent years, the presence of clinical pharmacists in the emergency department (ED) has become increasingly recognized for its role in improving medication safety and efficiency. EM pharmacists are involved in direct patient care, assisting with drug information, medication dosing, pharmacokinetic monitoring, and participation in medical and trauma resuscitations. Their role has been shown to reduce medication errors, improve drug delivery, and contribute to better resource management. However, there is limited research on how their presence affects the satisfaction of other ED professionals, particularly health care and anesthesia staff , who are integral to patient care in these fast-paced environments.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an emergency medicine (EM) clinical pharmacist on nursing satisfaction within the emergency department (ED). Specifically, it compared nursing satisfaction with pharmacy services before and after the introduction of an EM pharmacist.
Methods: A pre-post intervention design was utilized to assess nursing satisfaction with pharmacy services, focusing on three key areas: general pharmacy services, pharmacy information technology (IT), and the perceived impact of the EM pharmacist. A 29-question survey was administered to ED health care and anesthesia staff at a 422-bed urban teaching hospital before and one year after the implementation of EM pharmacy services. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square or Fisher's Exact tests.
Results: A total of 52 surveys were completed (22 pre-intervention, 30 post-intervention). Significant improvements in nursing satisfaction were observed in all aspects of pharmacy services. Satisfaction with general pharmacy services increased from 27% to 86% (p<0.0001). Health care and anesthesia staff reported improvements in drug information accessibility, issue resolution, medication delivery time, and IT systems such as the automated medication dispensing (AMD) system. While most health care and anesthesia staff initially believed that an EM pharmacist would improve patient safety and care quality, these perceptions were reinforced post-intervention, with more health care and anesthesia staff agreeing that the EM pharmacist helped prevent medication errors (74% vs. 89%) and supported quality care during resuscitations (79% vs. 93%).
Conclusion: The introduction of an EM clinical pharmacist significantly enhanced nursing satisfaction with pharmacy services, particularly in the areas of drug information, medication delivery, and IT systems. These findings underscore the positive impact of EM pharmacists in improving interdisciplinary collaboration and patient care in the ED.