Did you know that most hospitals have pharmacists that help select medications and oversee the preparing of medicines for patients who are in hospital?

One in six of Ontario pharmacists practice in hospitals. Hospital pharmacists work in hospital inpatient pharmacy departments overseeing the dispensing and storage of all medicines given to all patients in the hospital. Hospital pharmacists are a key part of the hospital's health care team and are often involved in deciding (with the physician) which medication is best for you.

(The pharmacy department prepares medicines for patients that are admitted to hospital. This should not be confused with the community/out-patient pharmacy that is often located in a hospital for patients or family to have (discharge) prescriptions filled or to purchase other drugs or health products.)

You can also ask to speak to your hospital pharmacist if you have any questions about the medicines that are being prescribed for you during your stay in the hospital.

If you know that you will be going to hospital for care, ask your community pharmacist for a list of your current medications. Take this to your hospital pharmacist when you are admitted so they can better care for you while in hospital.

Then, when you are ready to leave the hospital, ask your hospital pharmacist for a list of the medications that you started in hospital (or any changes made, including drugs added, drugs stopped, or doses or dosing times that have been changed) so that you can share this with your community pharmacist when you return home.

Your hospital pharmacist has met the following standards before receiving their license to practice:

• At least four to five years of university-level pharmacy education
• Trained and qualified in all aspects of handling medications, including dispensing prescription and non-prescription medications, drug therapy and understanding drug interactions and side-effects
• Trained in the principles of good pharmaceutical care including patient counselling and care
• Aware of all health care and pharmacy laws governing pharmaceuticals, pharmacists roles and pharmacy operations
• Qualified to counsel patients in at least one of Ontario and Canada’s official languages, English or French
• Successfully completed provincial and national examinations on pharmacy practice and applicable pharmacy laws and standards
• Maintain a continuing education program (portfolio) as well as participate in life-long quality assurance program

As an Ontario pharmacist with good standing, your pharmacist follows:

• All legal requirements necessary to operate as an Ontario health professional including professional conduct rules, patient care and confidentiality
• The Standards of Practice and the Standards for Hospital Pharmacists set by the Ontario College of Pharmacists
• The Code of Ethics as set by the Ontario College of Pharmacists; and
• All legal requirements for practising in and/or operating a hospital pharmacy department