Clinical Pharmacy Consulting on Demand

Adverse drug events and medication errors contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in the patients hospitalized in the United States. In 2022, data shows that 175,000 patients died due to adverse drug reactions, while the overall prevalence of an adverse drug event during a hospital admission ranges from 10 to 20%. Adverse drug reactions are responsible for up to 6% of all hospitalizations, with most frequent drugs involved being anticoagulants, antibiotics, hypoglycemic/diabetic agents, and opioids. The presence of polypharmacy or concurrent prescribing of 7 or more medications in elderly patients significantly increases the risk of adverse events, and may lead to long-term impairment. Most commonly observed adverse effects in the elderly population include cardiovascular changes, bleeding, electrolyte disturbances such as changes in sodium or potassium, and increased sedation resulting in higher incidence of falls and fractures. While the clinical pharmacist presence can reduce the occurrence of these events through active surveillance and physician consultations, not every facility is adequately staffed with clinical pharmacists who are able to detect and prevent these situations. As a clinical pharmacist practicing in the field for 20 years, I have participated in interdisciplinary teams and aided providers in addressing these scenarios. Most recently, I have provided a medical expert witness advice to a legal firm related to a sudden change in condition precipitated by excessive doses of an antipsychotic drug. I would be happy to assist your firm or hospital in a consulting capacity to better pinpoint the origin of the problem or to investigate if the problem was caused by a pharmaceutical agent. I provide reasonable rates below the market average due to my emphasis on patient well-being.

Please, contact me at pharmmedicus@gmail.com to discuss your case or text me at 847-502-7462.