Purpose Risks and vulnerabilities of the medication-use process in nonpediatric institutions that also serve pediatric patients are reviewed, and guidance on risk mitigation strategies is provided. Summary There are many risks and vulnerabilities in the medication-use process as it relates to pharmacotherapy for pediatric patients admitted to adult institutions. Mitigation of these risks is critical and should encompass various available resources and strategies. Special emphasis should be placed on use of technology to improve overall safety. Available literature recommends optimization of technology and resource use, institutional support for pediatric pharmacists’ involvement in managing pediatric medication use, and provision of early exposure to pediatric patients in pharmacist training programs as additional methods of mitigating risks associated with pediatric medication use in adult institutions. Adult hospitals that provide care for pediatric patients should assess their processes in order to identify hospital-specific interventions to promote pediatric medication safety. Conclusion Pediatric medication safety frameworks in U.S. adult institutions vary widely. Treating pediatric patients involves risks in all areas of the medication-use process. Optimizing technology, utilizing external resources, supporting a pediatric pharmacist, and providing early-career exposure to pediatric patients are methods to mitigate risks in institutions that primarily serve adult patients.

Purpose To describe a process to identify metrics that represent the impact of inpatient pharmacy services on patient outcomes across a health system. Summary The authors describe a systematic process of identifying inpatient clinical outcome measures that could represent pharmacists’ impact on patient outcomes and eventually be displayed in a dashboard within the electronic medical record (EMR). A list was generated through literature review, assessment of practices at other sites, evaluation of current pharmacy services, and collaboration with the quality department and System Pharmacy Clinical User Group. The project team narrowed the list through assessment against standardized criteria. An assessment tool was designed and distributed to stakeholders to prioritize clinical outcome measures for inclusion on the dashboard. The clinical outcome measures were transformed into metrics by determining measurement criteria, inclusion and exclusion parameters, and review time frame. After validation, the metrics are planned to be displayed on an inpatient pharmacy EMR dashboard. Exemption from institutional review board review was granted for this project. Conclusion A systematic process was developed and used to identify inpatient clinical outcome metrics.

The formation of a task force led to the successful passage of a bill granting the Kansas Board of Pharmacy the authority to issue regulations regarding mandatory pharmacy technician certification.

The Director's Forum is designed to guide pharmacy leaders in establishing patient-centered services in hospitals and health systems. This article focuses on the process of preparing leaders for future career transitions. Both new and seasoned leaders are confronted with the tasks of overcoming environmental issues, ensuring alignment in all directions during the first 90 days, and implementing change. By gaining a thorough understanding of the expectations during the transition phase, the new pharmacy leader will ensure future successes that maximize department initiatives and support the rapidly changing health care environment.