Pharmacy

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When it comes to interdisciplinary exposure, innovation and expertise, Pharmacy delivers.

BENJAMIN R.Ph, Staff Pharmacist, Pediatric Oncology

The field of pharmacy is in a state of empowering redefinition: from the world of medication dispensing into the world of patient care. In virtually every arena of our hospital, in every new and newsworthy facility, you’ll find our pharmacists on the forefront of their evolving discipline.

As colleagues and collaborators, we are valued for our expertise in drug therapy management. Pharmacists are assigned to specific units, which gives them the means to specialize and develop strong team relationships. On these units, we shine by utilizing our knowledge in pharmacotherapeutics to influence patient treatments and provide optimal care. For those who seek a more varied experience, we offer career paths with movement between units and specialties.

Direct Patient Care
Our pharmacists achieve as part of a team, on the patient floors and immersed in daily care. For example, pharmacists serve in a clinical capacity in our Emergency Departments (ED) and are integrated into the ED team. Clinical pharmacy managers are strategically placed in internal medicine, ambulatory care, critical care, infectious diseases, pediatrics, oncology, nutrition support, solid organ transplant, psychiatry and more.

We also house a Drug Information Center and an Investigational Drug Service. And let’s not forget the Burn Unit and full host of ICUs (including neonatal, pediatric, cardiac, medical, surgical and neurological). These services span our five sites, plus numerous satellite pharmacies and facilities in the Ambulatory Care Network (ACN). Our satellite pharmacy stations are strategically placed to provide high-quality service throughout the hospital.

High Standards
With over 450 staff members and over 200 pharmacists, we comprise a formidable group. Our commitment to quality and adherence to compliance standards are evident by the service rendered. Our department is well respected and valued. Our leading-edge order entry system makes things faster, easier and safer. And this makes our pharmacists happier (our turnover and vacancy rates are well below local and national benchmarks).

As part of a world-renowned academic institution, our pharmacists enjoy regular opportunities to teach and participate in research. This work has been highlighted and awarded by hospital leadership. In 2009, six of our pharmacists were honored for their tireless dedication to quality outcomes and patient safety.

Prerequisites for Pharmacy

Clinical Pharmacy Manager:
Doctor of Pharmacy degree
ASHP-accredited residency (for some positions)
Advanced training/experience in area of responsibility
Licensure required as a Pharmacist by the State of New York

Staff Pharmacist:
BS in Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy degree
Licensure required as a Pharmacist by the State of New York

Pharmacy Technician
Our pharmacy technicians support our licensed pharmacists in providing medication and care to patients. They assist with the careful preparation of medication for patients under the supervision of pharmacists and have other important responsibilities. At NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, they are empowered team members advocating for patient safety through stringent standards. They are constant innovators. In general, pharmacy technicians enter the field through an approved pharmacy training program.

Internships and Residencies:

Residencies

Pharmacy Internship Program

Teaching and Development:

Development Opportunities

Teaching Opportunities

Reference Technologies
Our pharmacists make full use of two of the world’s leading medical libraries: Columbia University Health Services Library and Cornell University Medical Library. These two resources are available to pharmacy staff from any computer workstation. All this, of course, supplements online references, including Lexi-Comp, Clinical Pharmacology and Micromedex, for researching time-sensitive clinical information.

Innovations
Innovation is central to the expanding responsibilities of our profession. For example:

We were early adopters of computerized physician order entry and electronic patient records.
We are re-engineering our drug distribution model from a centralized, cart-fill model, moving towards a cartless, automated and decentralized model; we utilize automated dispensing cabinets for storing essentially all patient medications.
Hospital-wide, barcode scanning is in the midst of coordinated implementation.
Several areas of the department have been renovated, and modernization of many other areas of the Pharmacy is planned.

Awards and Recognition:

PUBLICATIONS (Abridged)

PRESENTATIONS (Abridged)

AWARDS