Clinical Pharmacy Practice in the Operating Room

Abstract

An operating room pharmacy has traditionally been focused on the provision of controlled substance accounting and drug distribution services. Clinical pharmacy can be practiced in this setting as well, to the benefit of patients and operating room staff. The operating room pharmacist can provide such services as drug information, drug use evaluation, participation in patient care rounds, adverse drug reaction reporting, assistance in emergency drug therapy, formulary management, research collaboration, pharmacokinetic and pain management consultation, and education regarding drug therapy. The clinical expertise of the operating room pharmacist can be gained through literature review, surgical case observation, attendance and participation in anesthesia conferences, and direct patient care. By providing clinical services appropriate to a given institution's needs in the operating room setting, and delegating direct distributive functions to pharmacy technicians whenever possible, the pharmacist can move into a rewarding role as a clinician member of the operating room health care team.