Anesthetist Support Service by Pharmacist

—Preparation of Injections in the Operation Room—

Abstract

Shortage of physicians is a serious social issue in Japan. It has become an urgent challenge to support busy physicians. While the number of anesthetists is remarkably insufficient, the number of operations has increased in many hospitals after Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) is implemented. Drugs used in operation rooms include many narcotic analgesic and poisonous drugs, which medical staff are required to strictly control. From the viewpoint of medical safety management, pharmacists should be involved in the management of these drugs. We have started preparation of injections in the operation rooms aiming mainly at supporting anesthetists. Pharmacists make up the anesthetic sets according to anesthetists' order by the evening of the previous day. The pharmacists carry the sets from the pharmacy to the operation room on a wagon. On the early morning of the operation day, two pharmacists mix the injection drugs, fill the syringes, attach the labels, assemble the routes, and check the completed sets in each operating room according to the list. All pharmacists in our pharmacy department engage in this service. We have conducted opinion surveys of pharmacists and anesthetists on this service. Although the workload of pharmacists increased, most pharmacists thought it was worthwhile. Most anesthetists evaluated that this service has improved medical safety. However, there were many requests that the pharmacists should be further involved throughout the entire operation. It is important to support physicians with services such as this by the pharmacist based on pharmaceutical knowledge. This service has a beneficial impact on healthcare professionals.