Directory of services

Pharmacy Services

The role of the hospital pharmacist has changed dramatically during the past 20 years, evolving from the relatively simple preparation and supply of medicines, to an optimization of drug use and the provision of information.

A well-developed pharmacy service is provided to all areas in Saad Specialist Hospital. A group of clinically qualified pharmacists work as part of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care and oversee all aspects of medication use.

MISSION

The service is committed to provide the highest quality of pharmaceutical care available through a philosophy of “Best Practice” to its patients, hospital, staff and the community.
Its core values are teamwork, accountability, innovation, respect, and a sense of urgency.

SCOPE OF SERVICE

Pharmacy practice standards that are established by the following organizations are a guide for practice at Saad Specialist Hospital:

  • American Society of Health – System Pharmacists (ASHP).
  • Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health-Care Organizations (JCAHO).
  • Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH).
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following objectives define the Pharmacy Service’s approach:

  • Ordering the most rational therapeutic agent as per the approved formulary.
  • Monitoring the medication’s effectiveness and or toxicity.
  • Ensuring the rational and cost-effective use of drugs.
  • Providing up-to-date clinical and clinical and pharmaceutical information. covering drug therapy to physicians, nurses, and other health care
    professionals.
  • Providing specialty consultative services in the areas of pharmacokinetics, nutrition, and other fields of therapeutics.
  • Engaging in collaborative practice with other healthcare practitioners for the purpose of improving care and conserving resources.
  • Optimizing the use of human resources through expanded roles for pharmacy technicians, increased utilization of automation, and technology.
  • Meeting or exceeding USP 797 requirements for sterile product preparation in all sites.
  • Providing an adverse drug reaction reporting and follow-up system.
  • Participation in drug use evaluation processes.
  • Providing a staff development program.
  • Assisting in the teaching of medical staff, medical residents, and nursing staff.

Staff seeks to help Saad Specialist Hospital patients obtain the products and services they cannot receive elsewhere. Effort is also made to improve patient care through improved use and understanding of medications by patients and their families.

In–Patient Unit-Dose Services

Unit-Dose pharmacy provides service to all inpatient areas in the hospital and emergency room via a 24-hour pharmacy operation. The pharmacy is responsible for screening medication orders for appropriateness, entering them into patient-specific medication profiles in the pharmacy Information System, filling unit-dose medication, and for exchanging medication carts.

Ambulatory Care or Outpatient Services

This service provides a customer-friendly service to patients, who can enjoy the convenience of collecting medicines from the pharmacy situated within the clinics.

Saad Pharmacy

SAAD Retail Pharmacy carries a wide range of medicines and other items including:

  • Baby and Mother care products.
  • Blood pressure monitoring sets; blood glucose monitors and blood and urinary strips.
  • Prescription and over the counter (OTC) medicines.
  • Surgical and First Aid supplies.
  • Vitamins.
  • Cosmetics, etc.

SAAD Retail pharmacy is located outside the hospital grounds and is open 24 hours a day.
 
Sterile Admixture Service
This comprehensive service prepares Intravenous medications that range from simple premixed parenteral fluid containers to complex Intravenous admixtures. All total parenteral nutrition containers and chemotherapeutic drugs are compounded at the centralized intravenous admixture facility. Technicians and pharmacists manning this service assist in aseptic technique and training of new staff members in the department
 
Drug Information and Poison Center (DIPC)
The center provides information relevant to specific patient drug-related situations. Written responses are provided upon request. In addition to this important service, the DIPC supports the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee Adverse Drug reaction program, and provides E-MAIL Alerts to healthcare professionals.

Other responsibilities include evaluation of drug products for formulary consideration, review and control of non-formulary drug requests, and the orientation and training of new pharmacists.

Clinical topics include:

  • Adverse effects.
  • Drug dosing.
  • Drug-food identification.
  • Drug identification (including foreign drugs)
  • Drug incompatibilities.
  • Drug indications.
  • Drug interactions.
  • Drug monographs.
  • Drug therapy outcomes.
  • Drug use in pregnancy and lactation.
  • Drug use evaluation criteria.
  • Investigational drugs.
  • Monitoring drug therapy.
  • Phamaco-economics.
  • Stability information.
  • Therapeutic use of drugs.
  • Use of herbal remedies.

The DIPC is located in the basement of the main hospital building within the main Inpatient Pharmacy and is available from 0800 to 1700., Saturday through Wednesday, to respond to drug information requests and may be reached at extension number: 2952, fax number 1918, pager number 525 or e-mail at DIPC: drug/info@saadmedical.com


Clinical Services
 
Clinical services provided by the department include renal drug monitoring, drug interaction monitoring, patient care rounding, medication teaching, therapeutic drug monitoring, drug order review, drug information support for care providers, and a focus on an integrated, unit-based model for care delivery.