JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD Pharm. D IV Year HOSPITAL PHARMACY Previous Question Paper (June/July - 2022 - R08)

The hospital pharmacist serves as a vital link between the medical staff and the patient, ensuring safe and effective medication use. Their key roles include:

• Drug Procurement and Inventory Management: Selecting, purchasing, and maintaining optimal stock levels of drugs and medical supplies to prevent shortages.
• Dispensing and Compounding: Accurately dispensing medications to inpatients and outpatients, including the preparation of sterile and non-sterile formulations.
• Clinical Pharmacy Services: Reviewing medication orders for therapeutic appropriateness, checking for drug interactions, allergies, and dosage errors, and providing drug information to physicians and nurses.
• Patient Counseling: Educating patients on the proper use of medications, potential side effects, and adherence to therapy before discharge.
• Quality Assurance and Committee Participation: Participating in the Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee, monitoring adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and ensuring compliance with hospital safety policies.
• Drug Distribution Systems: Managing unit-dose distribution systems and maintaining automated dispensing cabinets to improve medication safety.

A hospital is a complex organization structured to provide comprehensive healthcare. The organization is typically hierarchical, led by a Governing Board, followed by an Administrator or CEO, and divided into clinical and non-clinical departments.

Organizational Structure:

• Governing Board: Sets policies and oversees overall hospital performance.
• Medical Staff: Includes physicians, surgeons, and specialists responsible for patient diagnosis and treatment.
• Nursing Services: The largest department, responsible for direct patient care and medication administration.
• Support Services: Includes pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, dietary, laundry, and maintenance departments.

Functions of a Hospital:

• Patient Care: Providing diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive services to inpatients and outpatients.
• Education and Training: Serving as a center for teaching medical, pharmacy, and nursing students.
• Research: Conducting clinical trials and medical research to improve treatment protocols.
• Public Health Promotion: Organizing health camps, vaccination drives, and community awareness programs.
• Administrative Management: Maintaining medical records, ensuring financial stability, and managing human resources and legal compliance.