Institutional Pharmacies and Staff Roles

Medical Staff

Doctors of Osteopathy (DO) and Doctors of Medicine (MD):
- Examine patients, diagnose illnesses, and provide treatments.
Physician Assistant (PA):
- Coordinates patient care under supervision of a doctor.
- Authorized to prescribe medication.

Registered Nurse (RN):
- Assists physicians, administers medications, and provides patient care.
Nurse Practitioners:
- Work independently or with physicians, depending on the state.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN):
- Provides basic care under RN supervision.
- Authorized to administer medication.
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) and Licensed Nursing Assistants (LNA):
- Assist in patient care but not authorized to administer medication.

Pharmacy Technicians:
- Assist pharmacists with medication preparation, inventory management, and patient education.
- Roles vary depending on organizational structure.

Centralized Pharmacies:
- Serve multiple facilities from a single location for efficiency in medication distribution.
Decentralized Pharmacies:
- Located within specific units or departments, offering localized services.
Satellite Pharmacies:
- Smaller units located in different areas, catering to specific patient populations.
Outpatient Pharmacies:
- Serve non-admitted patients, providing medications upon discharge or for outpatient procedures.

State Board of Pharmacy:
- Ensures compliance with state regulations.
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA):
- Regulates controlled substances.
Accreditation Bodies:
- The Joint Commission (TJC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS):
  - Set quality standards for healthcare organizations, including institutional pharmacies.
  - Compliance is crucial for maintaining high-quality patient care.
State Departments of Public Health (DPH):
- Oversee public health initiatives and enforce regulations to protect patient safety.