If it was only that easy to just pick one challenge that Health-System pharmacists have to deal with.  There are just too many and it varies depending if you are an intern pharmacist, a staff pharmacist, or in administration.  Whether it's dealing with having enough residencies available, or dealing with medication safety issues on a day to day basis, or dealing with medication shortages and finding alternative treatments, or dealing with increase medication costs, or collaborating with other healthcare partners from other departments to give the best patient care possible, or figuring out ways to decrease readmission rates/increase the patient care experience, or dealing with regulatory agencies on matters such as sterile compounding/control substances/med errors, etc..  Don't forget about the JACHO survey and then here comes the Department of Public Health knocking at your door for their MERP survey.  That's just scratching the surface, the list goes on and on.  Who said being a Health-System pharmacist was easy?  I applaud all those who go through all this just to make sure our patients receive the best care possible.  Keep up the great work!

The Obama administration's response to the epidemic includes a White House memorandum, released today, directing federal agencies to ensure that employees who are involved in the prescribing of controlled substances complete, within 18 months, training related to the appropriate use of the drugs . Read more...