SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb.,- Pharmacists at Regional West Medical Center will use the occasion of National Pharmacy Week, October 17-23 to underscore the many new and vital roles they now play in patient care. The evolution has been especially dramatic in recent years as pharmacists have moved beyond compounding and dispensing medications to become vital members of multidisciplinary patient-care teams.

“Many consumers are not aware that pharmacists play a critical role in preventing medication errors, advising prescribers on the best drug choices, and working directly with patients to ensure they understand how to use their medications safely and effectively,” said Ron Bahnsen, Director of Pharmacy Services. “Pharmacy Week is a great way to educate the public about how pharmacists can help them get the most benefit from their medicine.”

During Pharmacy Week the Regional West Medical Center pharmacy department will continue to provide education to patients. Information will also be provided to other hospital employees regarding pharmacy’s roles and responsibilities. Posters, highlighting pharmacy staff, will be placed throughout the hospital depicting what the pharmacists and pharmacy technicians do on a daily basis.

Hospital and health-system pharmacists have been able to take on enhanced patient-care roles because of a number of factors, including the deployment of highly trained, certified technicians and new technologies like robotics that dispense medications. As technology evolves—such as the addition of machine-readable codes to medication labels—patients have greater opportunities to have a pharmacist involved in their care.

Pharmacists are experts on the thousands of medications available today, how each one works in the body, and the ways to use each one safely and effectively. Pharmacists who graduate today receive seven years of education focused on medication therapy, and many pharmacists practicing in hospitals and health systems also complete post-graduate residency programs. They advise doctors and nurses on the best medications and dosages. They also monitor every patient’s medication therapy and provide quality checks to detect and prevent harmful drug interactions, reactions, or mistakes.

Currently, the inpatient pharmacy is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. The staff includes a director, an assistant director, 14 staff pharmacists, a pharmacy buyer, a pharmacy office coordinator/lead technician, 12 inpatient pharmacy technicians, 1 OR pharmacy technician, and 3 medication reconciliation registered nurses. Community Pharmacy at Regional West, the Medical Center’s outpatient pharmacy, employs 3 pharmacists and 5 pharmacy technicians.

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,800 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, Regional West offers care that spans more than 30 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by The Joint Commission and is one of three Level II Trauma Centers in Nebraska.