| Abstract | The development of a pharmaceutical care system for a neonatal intensive care unit satellite pharmacy
from existing integrated clinical, distributive, and quality assurance activities is described. Components of
practice already in place included pharmacotherapeutic monitoring, evaluations for childhood
immunizations, monthly medication summaries, and daily follow-up on scheduled doses returned in the
unit dose exchange carts. Pharmacists documented patient drug therapy consultations on a standard
form. New elements of practice emphasized organization of patients' clinical data by problem,
development of specific outcome-oriented standards of care for common neonatal conditions and
disease states, and quality improvement activities that evaluated the appropriateness of patient monitoring
and patient outcomes. Written standards of care for specific disease states improved clinical
decision-making, documentation of pharmacists' performance, and communication about patient care
with other health care professionals. Elements of pharmacy practice already in place may provide a good
foundation for a structured pharmaceutical care system. |