Emergency department physicians' experiences and perceptions with medication-related work tasks and the potential role of clinical pharmacists

Purpose Medication-related problems are frequent among emergency department patients. Clinical pharmacists play an important role in identifying, solving, and preventing these problems, but are not present in emergency departments worldwide. We aimed to explore how Norwegian physicians experience medication-related work tasks in emergency departments without pharmacists present, and how they perceive future introduction of a clinical pharmacist in the interprofessional team. Methods We interviewed 27 physicians in three emergency departments in Norway. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results Our informants' experience with medication-related work tasks mainly concerned medication reconciliation, and few other tasks were systematically performed to ensure medication safety. The informants were welcoming of clinical pharmacists and expressed a need and wish for assistance with compiling patient's medication lists. Simultaneously they expressed concerns regarding e.g., responsibility sharing, priorities in the emergency department and logistics. These concerns need to be addressed before implementing the clinical pharmacist in the interprofessional team in the emergency department. Conclusions Physicians in Norwegian emergency departments welcome assistance from clinical pharmacists, but the identified professional, structural, and legislative barriers for this collaboration need to be addressed before implementation.

Automated summary

Medication-related work tasks in Norwegian emergency departments mainly focus on medication reconciliation, with few other tasks performed to ensure medication safety. Physicians welcome the introduction of clinical pharmacists and express a need for assistance in compiling patient's medication lists. However, concerns regarding responsibility sharing, priorities, and logistics need to be addressed before implementing clinical pharmacists in the interprofessional team in the emergency department.