Clinical Pharmacy Services

Clinical Pharmacist

Clinical Pharmacy Specialists drive safe, appropriate and cost effective medication use, including prescribing, dispensing, administering and monitoring. Ambulatory care clinical pharmacy specialists practice in anticoagulation, HIV, diabetes, oncology, primary care, and other specialty clinics. Acute care clinical pharmacy specialists provide pharmaceutical care in critical care areas, internal medicine, and pediatrics.  Specialists are responsible for:

• Medication management information/consultations of patients in both inpatient and ambulatory settings.

• Drug therapy monitoring

• Adverse drug event monitoring

• Protocol development and management

• Medication use evaluations

• P&T committee membership

• Staff development

• Outcomes research and journal publication

 
The Drug Information Center (DIC)

The Drug Information Center is coordinated through a collaborative effort between the HCHD Department of Pharmacy and Texas Southern University's College of Pharmacy.  The DIC provides comprehensive drug information to the pharmacy, medical and allied health staff at HCHD.  The DIC is also open to non-HCHD health care professionals and the general public. 

The Formulary Command Center (FCC)

The Formulary Command Center was developed to support and enforce P&T Committee drug formulary restrictions.  Prescribing physicians must call the FCC to obtain approval for use of restricted formulary drugs.  The FCC also provides suggestions for alternative therapies on the formulary when more extensive research is necessary for unconventional therapy that is not feasible for the staff pharmacist to provide.

Quality Assurance (QA)

The HCHD Quality Assurance Coordinator is responsible for developing and measuring quality assurance indicators for the medication use process.  The major responsibilities include ensuring compliance with regulatory agencies, i.e. OSHA and JCAHO. Other responsibilities include management of adverse drug events. 

Investigational Drugs Services (IDS)

We are proud to take part in advancing pharmaceutical care by participating in innovative research studies. In conjunction with Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, HCHD's Investigational Drugs Service takes part in conducting international  studies. IDS ensures appropriate monitoring and distribution for a wide range of studies, including protocols pertaining to HIV, antimicrobials, and chemotherapeutics research.

Future Employees?

To become a member of the HCHD pharmacy team, interested applicants should contact:

Ephraim Santibanez
Professional Recruiter
2525 Holly Hall, Ste. 100
Houston, TX 77054
713-566-2321
Ephraim_Santibanez@hchd.tmc.edu