Key Terms
Admitting Order
A medication order written by a physician upon a patient’s admission to the hospital; may or may not include drug orders.
Pick Station
An area of the inpatient pharmacy that stores frequently prescribed unit-dose formulary drugs to allow efficient cart filling.
Policy and Procedures Manual
A written or online step-by-step guide outlining all operations within the pharmacy department for pharmacists and technicians.
Quality Assurance (QA)
A system of procedures, feedback, and oversight ensuring that operational and quality standards are consistently met.
STAT Order
A medication order that must be filled and delivered to the patient care unit immediately.
Automated Medication Dispensing System (AMDS)
A secure, locked storage cabinet of designated drugs on a nursing unit whose software tracks the dispensing and administration of each dose.
Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee
A hospital committee that reviews and approves the drug formulary and maintains policies on medication use.
Par Levels
The minimum restock and maximum reorder levels for each drug on a nursing unit.
Nonformulary Drug
A medication not included on the hospital’s approved drug formulary.
Medication Order
A prescription written in a hospital setting for a specific patient’s medication therapy.
Cart Fill List
A daily printout of all patient profiles and medications to be placed in medication carts for each nursing unit.
Intravenous (IV) Admixture
A centralized pharmacy service that prepares sterile IV preparations such as IV solutions, TPN, and hazardous drugs.
Investigational Drug
A drug used in clinical trials not yet approved by the FDA, or one being used for non-approved indications.
The Joint Commission
An independent organization that accredits hospitals and sets standards for patient care quality and safety.
Medical Chart
A hard copy or digital legal document containing clinical information, patient demographics, physician notes, medication orders, and assessments.
Director of Pharmacy
The chief executive officer of the hospital pharmacy department; also called the Pharmacist in Charge (PIC).
Intake Record
Documentation completed by a nurse upon a patient’s admission to the hospital, including medical history and initial data.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
A hospital committee that ensures patients using investigational drugs are appropriately protected; also called the Human Use Committee.
Home Medications
A patient’s own medications brought from home for continuation during hospital stay or review by healthcare staff.
Home Infusion Pharmacy
A specialty pharmacy that provides infusion therapy and supplies for patients receiving treatment at home.
Discharge Order
An order written by a physician that provides take-home instructions, including prescribed medications and doses, for a discharged patient.
Drug Formulary
A list of approved medications for use within the hospital, reviewed and authorized by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
Electronic Health Record (EHR)
A computerized health information record used to share patient data among authorized healthcare providers to coordinate care.
Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR)
An online record that documents the administration time of each drug to each patient by a nurse using barcode technology.
Floor Stock
Medications stocked in a secured area at each patient care station or floor for immediate nursing use.