Got Electrolytes? BCH Pharmacy Staff Recognized in Important Health Journal

by Chris Zielenski, BCH Pharamacy Clinical Coordinator

BCH staff and two of our previous students were recently published in The American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (AJHP) for our work to improve how we replace and maintain electrolyte balance in our hospital patients -- vital for muscle function, including the heart.

AJHP is the official publication of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. It publishes peer reviewed scientific papers on contemporary drug therapy and pharmacy practice innovations in hospitals and health systems. With a circulation of more than 43,000, AJHP is the most widely recognized and respected clinical pharmacy journal in the world.

Our collective work focused on replacing electrolytes of patients staying in the hospital -- important because maintaining electrolyte balance is required for muscle function, including the heart. We developed an electronic method for standardizing care. This process improvement initiative improved safety and patient care. This improvement occurred through collaboration with other departments at BCH, including information technology, nursing, pharmacy and physicians.

It is a wonderful honor for our work to be featured in AJHP -- the premier journal for health-system pharmacy. Publication in this journal provides international recognition to BCH as an innovator in the field of pharmacy practice.

Thanks and congratulations to the team:

Tien Le – IT

Adam Crabtree – Informatics

Alyse Marlatt – IT

Dana Ng – Pharmacy student (at the time)

Alan Tran – Pharmacy student (at the time)