Pharmacy Services provides pharmaceutical care and safe medication practices through its outpatient and inpatient services. This care involves the responsible provision of drug therapy to achieve outcomes that improve a patient's quality of life. 

Inpatient Pharmacy Services

The General site Pharmacy serves the needs of patients admitted to the hospital. Inpatient services include Pharmacy Operations (the preparation and dispensing of medications) as well as Clinical Pharmacy Services (patient care, counseling, and education).

Pharmacy operations

The Pharmacy provides medication dispensing according to safe medication practice guidelines for all oral, intravenous, and total parenteral nutrition therapy. As well, it manufactures medications that are not readily available in required dosages for paediatric and neonatal intensive care patients. 

Pharmacy technicians are responsible for the preparation, manufacturing, and dispensing of the majority of oral, IV, TPN, and chemotherapy medications, with a double-check provided by a pharmacist, prior to releasing the medications from Pharmacy to the patient care areas.

Clinical Pharmacy Services and the role of pharmacists

In addition to verifying all medications prepared and dispensed through Pharmacy Services, pharmacists provide care to patients in a variety of ways. They develop the treatment and monitoring plan for each patient, assessing the most appropriate medication, dose, dosage frequency, and duration of treatment. As well, these professionals guide the selection of the most appropriate medications and medication regimen, while preventing potential medication related problems and unwanted side effects of therapy.

In collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, pharmacists are actively involved with each of the inpatient care areas, providing care that includes:

  • Performing patient assessments to obtain a thorough medication history and to verify allergy upon admission;
  • Assessing all new medication orders to ensure appropriateness and completeness;
  • Monitoring a patient's response to therapy, and potential medication related problems or side effects of treatment to provide a resolution plan;
  • Providing drug information;
  • Providing medication education for health providers; and
  • Providing medication counseling and education while a patient is in the hospital or upon discharge.

Pharmacists also provide computerized medication order entry, using the hospital's integrated computer information system to review each medication order. Service and safety are further advanced at the hospital by automating medication prepackaging and dispensing.

Our Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, whose membership includes physicians, nurses and pharmacists, continuously reviews and approves medications to ensure patients receive the most cost-effective treatment.

Read information about our Meds Check Program.