CovingtonCares 15 It’s not open to the public, so most Covington County Hospital patients don’t even know it exists. Nevertheless, the Pharmacy plays a major role in their care and safety – around the clock every day. Medications come into the hospital via the Pharmacy, which logs them into the hospital’s electronic records system by scanning a barcode. At every subsequent step as the medication makes its way to a patient, the barcode acts as a safeguard to make sure the medication is used as intended. Scanning First When a physician or other provider orders medication, Pharmacist Jennifer Patterson, PharmD, verifies the order, checks the medication, and sends it to a nursing station. Any time nurses or other practitioners administer any medication, they scan the barcode first. “If a nurse scans the barcode of an incorrect medication or tries to administer it at the wrong time,” Patterson said, “the system will alert the nurse of the error.” Another of Patterson’s daily tasks is to fill and check the medication carts that are stocked for patients who are on daily medication regimens. To handle new medication orders that occur after Pharmacy hours, a Pharmacy Technician (the Pharmacy’s only other employee) stocks an automated dispensing machine Safeguards A barcode is linked to each drawer in the machine. When the medication’s code is scanned, only the corresponding drawer will open for stocking. For after-hours orders, an on-call pharmacist confirms the order and sends the fulfillment to the Pyxis (automated dispensing machine) for administering. Nurses can only access the medications that are assigned to that patient. Once nurses retrieve the medication, they scan the patient's armband and the barcode on the medication to ensure that they have the “Right Patient, Right Medication, and Right Time.” “When a nurse retrieves a patient’s profile and selects the verified medication order they require,” Patterson said, “only the drawer containing that specific medication will open.” Controlled Substances Patterson also reviews, verifies, and monitors all controlled-substance medications (such as powerful painkillers). And she monitors antibiotics as part of the hospital’s Antibiotic Stewardship Program. That program provides special oversight to ensure that, for each patient, the right antibiotic at the right dose is prescribed at the right time for the right duration. Not only does that optimize treatment, but it also prevents antibiotics overuse, which can help make bacteria resistant to the medications. Patterson earned her doctorate in pharmacy at the University of Mississippi. She has been a pharmacist for 24 years and has worked at CCH for the past 20 years. To relax, she trains and rides horses. “There’s nothing better than hitting the trails and exploring new places with my four-legged friends. It’s always an adventure!” Keeping an Eye Out As she makes her daily orders from medical suppliers, Patterson tries to anticipate and manage potential shortages of certain medications. “I strive to be proactive by identifying shortages early, monitoring medication availability, exploring potential alternative treatments, and informing our providers about any shortages,” she said. Every once in a while, Patterson gets a chance to actually meet patients and help them understand how their medications work. “I’m happy to provide patient education when asked by the patient, nurse, or provider,” she said. “Just let me know.” To learn about what illnesses antibiotics can and cannot treat and why it’s important not to overuse antibiotics, scan this QR code. LEARN MORE
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