TMC: Pharmacy

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Almost every patient admitted to TMC will receive at least one medication during their stay. In fact, we dispense approximately 1.6 million doses of medication annually. That’s almost 4,000 doses a day.

And with over 3,000 different medications in TMC Pharmacy Department, you can understand why our motto is “Think Patient Safety First.” It is a daily challenge for the pharmacy staff to keep up with all the new drugs and changing information. Our ultimate challenge is accuracy, and we strive for that each day.

To meet that challenge, we have a veteran pharmacy staff of 25 pharmacists and technicians who work around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Together, our pharmacists can boast an impressive 200+ years of experience in pharmacy practice and we have several pharmacy technicians who have passed the 30-year mark in service to TMC pharmacy.

The medication process starts with a physician’s order, much like a prescription, that is faxed to the pharmacy. A registered pharmacist enters the order into the patient’s profile, and the computer assists the pharmacist in screening the patient’s medications for allergies and duplications in therapy. The computer also assists the pharmacist in monitoring lab values and will alert the pharmacist to potential problems. Experience and the processes pharmacists follow ensure that every order is reviewed for the 5-Rights: Right patient; Right medication; Right dose; Right time; and Right route.

Once the verification process is complete, the medication can then be removed by the nurse from our newly upgraded Automatic Dispensing System. This devise is like a computerized vending machine for medication storage that is located on each nursing unit. It allows the patient’s nurse to obtain medications accurately in less time. In addition, the pharmacy has a pneumatic tube system to the Emergency Room, Operating Room, and all the nursing units to deliver medications in seconds, instead of minutes.

Another important addition in our new pharmacy is a state of the art IV preparation area. This is a super clean area where pharmacists and technicians compound medication used to treat patients intravenously. Staffers undergo special training and regular testing to ensure the quality and sterility of the products we dispense. Several dozen intravenous products, including antibiotics, chemotherapy, and nutritional products are mixed daily.

Assuring that patients are getting the right medication accurately is our goal.

So, the next time you come to the hospital, you can rely on the fact that the staff of TMC pharmacy take the motto “Think Patient Safety First” seriously and will provide you with the best pharmaceutical care in North Texas.

by Richard Austin, RPh
Director of Pharmacy
Texoma Medical Center