For centuries, we’ve relied on our pharmacists to not only fill our prescriptions, but, especially in modern times, cross-check drug interactions and recommend alternatives, all while keeping a watchful eye on demand and supply and industry standards.
Now, consider the clinical pharmacist in a hospital setting, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in what is currently considered a hotspot in Connecticut. Fairfield County is now experiencing a plateau in the peak, with hopes of a decline in COVID-positive hospitalizations over the next few weeks.
Joseph Faulhaber, clinical pharmacist at Hartford HealthCare’s St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, gives us some insight from his unique perspective.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with providers and nurses in the emergency department and the ICU (intensive care unit) taking care of coronavirus patients,” he said. “Pharmacists are considered drug experts, and we are helping these providers with any recommendations they may need. We make sure everything is safe and correct, and that there will be no negative drug interactions. We are carefully monitoring patients on a daily basis to ensure the prescribed therapy is still accurate.”
“We are the second pair of eyes for both patient and provider,” said Faulhaber. “These patients are very sick, they’re very complex, and we are taking every precaution to ensure we are providing them with the best possible care.”
What about the potential of drug shortages during the surge? Dr. Ajay Kumar, Chief Clinical Officer for Hartford HealthCare, has detailed the extensive measures Hartford HealthCare has been taking to mitigate shortages since the onset of this pandemic, from PPE conservation to monitoring supply chain activity for the basics such as food and cleaning supplies.
“As we began our journey in the COVID crisis,” he said, “we started to analyze our supplies to ensure we were prepared to support all of our colleagues and patients throughout the system. We have been able to meet or exceed that demand.”
Medication supply has been no exception.
“We saw what happened it Italy,” explained Faulhaber. “A lot of patients needed to be ventilated, and to be ventilated, you have to be sedated. We anticipated many hospitals would need to use more and more sedative meds in our area. So, we sat down to come up with backup plans, plans A, B and C were in place in the event that the manufacturers and wholesalers wouldn’t be able to keep up with demand. We were ready — but we have not had to go to plan B or C. That supply chain is in good shape and that’s a good thing.”
Not feeling well? Call your healthcare provider for guidance and try to avoid going directly to an emergency department or urgent care center, as this could increase the chances of the disease spreading.
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