Pharmacy Clinical Programs

The Saint Francis Department of Pharmacy is a clinically focused department that employs highly trained staff and state-of-the-art technology to provide the highest quality patient care. Focus on quality and patient safety is embedded into the organizational culture. Nationally certified technicians provide logistical support to the unit-based pharmacists. A clinical coordinator oversees all education and staff development. Extensive pharmacy technology affords our pharmacists the opportunity to focus on the clinical aspects of their practice. A barcode packaging system for oral solid medications and carousel inventory management streamlines the drug distribution system. An automated syringe compounding system prepares barcoded, ready-to-administer, IV syringes with greater speed and accuracy than can be achieved through a manual process. Automated dispensing machines contribute to the optimal efficiency of drug distribution on the patient care units. Barcode medication administration and charting is linked through wireless technology to the hospital clinical information system at the patient bedside. Smart infusion technology is in use in our neonatal intensive care unit and will be implemented system-wide during the 2008 calendar year.

The Department of Pharmacy provides a broad range of clinical pharmacy services. We employ a staff of over 100 professionals and technicians and we serve inpatients and outpatients at two main campuses. Our pharmaceutical care model promotes direct, responsible medication-related care for the purpose of achieving definite outcomes that improve a patient’s quality of life. Our pharmacists work in concert with the patient and the patient's other health care providers to promote health, to prevent disease, and to assess, monitor, initiate, and modify medication use to assure that drug therapy regimens are safe and effective. We aim to optimize health-related quality of life and achieve positive clinical outcomes for our patients. Our pharmacists are actively involved in practices in the following settings:

In addition to our extensive inpatient and outpatient clinical programs, hospital employees may receive prescription services at our onsite Employee Pharmacy. Our integrated pharmacy services also include the operation and management of a federal qualified health center pharmacy in Hartford, as well as several for-profit ventures. We also offer an ASHP-accredited residency program and numerous academic clerkships/rotations for pharmacy students. The Saint Francis Department of Pharmacy provides an excellent environment for pharmacists to advance their skills and meet their professional goals.