The participation of pharmacists in a team to introduce a clinical pathwayto laparoscopic cystectomy in obstetrics and gynecology

In the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at our hospital, a team of d octors, pharmacists, nurses, and other medical staff was established to pre pare a clinical pathway for laparoscopic cystectomy. Various data on clinic al charts including the use of drugs were collected from 57 patients by pha rmacists and nurses. Based on the analysis of these data, hospitalization p eriod, method of preoperative bowel preparation, time to initiation of food intake, duration of antibiotic administration, and time and content of pha rmaceutical instructions to patients of dosage and administration were dete rmined. Criteria for variances requiring the doctor's directions were deter mined for fever, wound pain, and vomiting. The clinical pathway established here allows of not only the efficient and uniform care of patients, but al so the active exchange of opinions among members of the medical team. Moreo ver, most patients who replied to a questionnaire said that they were at ea se during hospitalization because they had received detailed information ab out the clinical pathway including the use of drugs before surgery. Thus, t he participation of pharmacists on a medical team that is introducing a cli nical pathway is particularly important because the use of drugs and pharma ceutical care are an important part of good patient care.