PCH celebrates Pharmacy Week

In celebrating Pharmacy Week Oct. 19-25, Putnam County Hospital thanks the pharmacists at PCH, as well as those who serve around the community to help keep our friends and families well.

The evolution of a pharmacist's role in health care has been especially dramatic in recent years as pharmacists have moved beyond compounding and dispensing medications to become vital members of multidisciplinary patient-care teams.

"Many consumers are not aware that pharmacists play a critical role in preventing medication errors, advising prescribers on the best drug choices, and working directly with patients to ensure they understand how to use their medications safely and effectively," Putnam County Hospital Pharmacy Manager Kyle Johnson said. "Pharmacy Week is a great way to recognize those that often work behind the scenes to help keep our patients safe and on the road to being well."

Hospital and health-system pharmacists have been able to take on enhanced patient-care roles because of a number of factors, including the deployment of highly trained, certified technicians and new technologies like robotics that dispense medications. As technology evolves -- such as the addition of machine-readable codes to medication labels -- patients will have greater opportunities to have a pharmacist involved in their care.

Pharmacists are experts on the thousands of medications available today, how each one works in the body, and the ways to use each one safely and effectively. Pharmacists who graduate today receive six years of education focused on medication therapy, and many pharmacists practicing in hospitals and health systems also complete post-graduate residency programs. They advise doctors and nurses on the best medications and monitor every patient's medication therapy and provide quality checks to detect and prevent harmful drug interactions, reactions or mistakes.

For more information on Putnam County Hospital's services, call 653-5121 or go to www.pchosp.org.