Clinical Pharmacy Team Optimizes Care of Critically Ill COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Patients

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ACCP member Laurimay Johnson, Pharm.D., BCCCP, reports that the Critical Care/Emergency Department clinical pharmacists at John Peter Smith (JPS) Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas, have not let the pandemic prevent them from providing optimal care for critically ill COVID and non-COVID patients. The clinical pharmacy team has been integrally involved in pandemic care, including treatment protocol development and supporting a new COVID ICU. Leadership coordinated the involvement of additional clinical pharmacists to enhance and expand their efforts. They rounded with the COVID ICU team daily and responded to codes. Even with limited PPE, patient care and the needs of the COVID ICU team remain high priorities. A clinical pharmacist from the team was included in a hospital discussion panel on the topic of interdisciplinary care in the era of COVID-19. Despite the many challenges posed by the COVID unit, JPS clinical pharmacists also remain dedicated to providing 24/7 services to non-COVID afflicted patients in the MICU, SICU, and ED. In her description of the clinical pharmacy staff’s response to the pandemic, Laurimay observes: “What they have accomplished and endured is inspiring and humbling.”

In addition to Dr. Johnson, JPS clinical pharmacy team members include Christina Chen, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCCP; Sloka Manvi, Pharm.D., BCPS; Christie Crawford, Pharm.D., BCCCP; Hannah Hewgley, Pharm.D., BCPS; Johnathan Voss, Pharm.D., BCCCP, BCNSP; Allison Clarke, Pharm.D., BCPS; Elizabeth Johnson, Pharm.D., BCPS; Phillip Kilver, Pharm.D., BCPS; Stephanie Cox, Pharm.D., BCPS; Hannah Yang, Pharm.D., BCPS; Ashley Selby, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCCP; Esteban Montemayor, Pharm.D., BCPS; and Khushbu Patel, Pharm.D., BCPS.