Included within the Atrium Health Navicent System is Atrium Health Navicent (AHN) The Medical Center, a 637 bed, nationally verified Level I-designated Trauma Center. Our pharmacy utilizes a systemwide, integrated computer system, electronic medical record (EPIC), PYXIS automated dispensing machines, and a state-of-the-art inventory management and distribution system. Approximately 16,000 doses are administered to patients each day. Intravenous (IV) therapy is an integral part of the AHN Pharmacy Department as there are approximately 300 admixtures compounded on a daily basis. In addition to the preparation of routine IV admixtures, pharmacists review and prepare approximately 30-35 oncologic and biologic admixtures per day.
At AHN, pharmacy services are provided 24 hours a day. Decentralized pharmacy services are provided in varying shifts from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. In addition to being the primary drug resource for the medical team and nursing in patient care areas, the Clinical Pharmacists are responsible for multidisciplinary rounds, pharmacokinetic and warfarin monitoring and consults, antimicrobial stewardship, renal dosing, IV to PO interchanges, providing drug information, responding to code blue emergencies, precepting students and representing the Georgia area on system level committees. Pharmacists also participate in transition of care activities including admission and discharge medication reconciliation, readmission risk assessment, and discharge medication counseling. Order verification is predominantly managed virtually by the Atrium Health Virtual Pharmacy Services team.
AHN pharmacists are consulted to aid the medical staff in customizing patients' vancomycin, aminoglycoside and warfarin therapies. Pharmacists assess a patient's clinical condition, review laboratory data, determine the appropriate regimen, write progress notes and order medication and additional laboratory values as needed. Patients are followed by the pharmacist daily with adjustments in therapies being made to achieve desired therapeutic outcomes.
Clinical pharmacists participate in multi-disciplinary, physician-led rounds for intensive care, general medicine, and pediatric units as well as with the Family Medicine and Internal Medicine medical teams. During rounds, pharmacists review patient profiles and make recommendations to optimize and individualize medication regimens as well as provide drug information. Additionally, pharmacists participate in hospital wide, physician-led multidisciplinary discharge planning rounds. Interventions made during rounds are charted in the hospital's electronic medical record.