Workshop 2 – Critical care multidisciplinary team – the role of the Hospital Pharmacist with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic

Linked to EAHP Statements

Section 4 – Clinical Pharmacy Services: Statements 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
Section 5 – Patient Safety and Quality Assurance: Statement 5.1, 5.5

ACPE UAN: 0475-0000-21-024-L04-P. An application-based activity. 

Abstract
The Hospital Pharmacist (HP) plays an important role in the critical care multidisciplinary team (MDT) and this has been even more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. HPs working in the critical care units review and optimise patients’ pharmacotherapy according to changes in the patient’s clinical status and identify drug interactions or adverse drug events, to recommend safe, effective and value for money treatments. In addition to this pharmacy service, during the pandemic the HP has had to adapt to an ever-changing clinical environment: keeping up-to-date with new guidelines almost daily; investigating potential treatments for Covid-19; procurement of large quantities of paralysing agents and sedatives used for patients on ventilators; and facing potential shortages of medications used in the critical care units; to name but a few challenges. Along with this, the HP has also had to manage their own safety while caring for their patients.

This interactive workshop will teach participants how to develop a therapeutic plan and monitor response in critical care patients, improve patient safety and evaluate cost effectiveness. Participants will apply evidence-based practice using a variety of clinical care scenarios, including a Covid-19 critical care scenarios, and present their best-practice recommendations to a simulated critical care MDT.

The workshop is directed at existing critical care pharmacists and those who are considering the critical care specialisation as part of their future hospital career.

Learning objectives
After the workshop, participants should be able to:
• illustrate the essential role of the pharmacist in the critical care MDT with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic
• distinguish the principal activities of the critical care pharmacist in terms of:
      – optimisation of pharmacotherapy
      – reduction of medication errors
      – prevention of adverse drug events
      – reduction of costs
• examine how these principle activities enhance patient safety in a critical care unit
• analyse a critical care scenario, identify issues with existing and proposed treatments, and recommend evidence-based practice to the MDT

Educational need addressed
This workshop shares best practice or HPs within a critical care MDT with a focus on COVID-19 in terms of optimisation of pharmacotherapy, cost effectiveness of the recommended treatment as well as prevention of medication errors and adverse drug events.

Keywords: critical care, medicine optimization, evidence-based practice, multidisciplinary team, Covid-19.