Robyn McArthur is an Emergency Department Pharmacist at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener, Ontario.
Where They're Working
Robyn’s had an interest in hospital pharmacy practice ever since high school when she volunteered at her local hospital’s inpatient pharmacy department.
“Even with limited clinical knowledge, I was really impressed with the impact that hospital pharmacists had on decision making and patient outcomes,” says Robyn. “From that experience moving forward in my co-op experiences as a pharmacy student, I continued to enjoy the team-based approach that hospital pharmacy offers. The collaborative atmosphere with medical and nursing staff makes my practice very rewarding.”
A trauma room at Grand River Hospital.
Reflections
on
the
Program
“Being involved as a student leader at UW, I made lasting connections personally and professionally with pharmacists and students in other programs. As a founding organizer of the Ontario Pharmacy Student Integrative Summit, I became inspired by other pharmacy student leaders to push the boundaries of pharmacy practice.”
Robyn’s interest in interprofessional hospital pharmacy practice continued after pharmacy school. She joined Grand River’s emergency department team upon graduation and has been there for the last four years. The Emergency Department is fast-paced where Robyn encounters patients and situations that change minute to minute.
“I have become accustomed to expect the unexpected! Because of the nature of Emergency Medicine, I have become well-versed in treating different ages and acuities from minor pediatric infections to the more serious cardiac arrests.”
Once patients have been treated, they often stay in the department for a brief period of time. As an Emergency pharmacist, Robyn identifies potential medication issues in these patients. Instead of monitoring outcomes and following up, she is most involved providing initial recommendations for treatment.
Often, the emergency department team has to treat patients where little is known about their health history. Thus, Robyn and her team play detective, exploring various channels to locate the information necessary for patient assessment.
“I can gather information and assess adverse events, recent medication adjustments, or chemotherapy protocols to enhance the clinical assessment of patients,” she explains. “Offering accurate medication history and home medication assessment to the physicians allows them to provide thorough care to the patients that we see.”
“Whether I am identifying a tablet for an overdose or accessing Ontario Drug Benefit claims for an unconscious patient, I have developed many techniques to locate patient and medication information. This aspect of Emergency Medicine can be the biggest challenge, but also provides the fulfilment of a solved puzzle.”
Alumni Answers
UW: Why is it important to have a pharmacist on the Emergency Department team?
RM: In the Emergency Department, pharmacists participate in drug preparation and treatment recommendation in trauma resuscitations. Evidence shows that medication errors in resuscitations are 51 times more likely to result in patient death. Pharmacist involvement has been shown to result in safer and more timely medication treatment. Pharmacists are valued member of the healthcare team in this particular setting.
UW: What skills are most vital for Emergency pharmacists?
RM: The Emergency Department requires a pharmacist to have quick decision-making skills and good detective skills. Important medication decisions are made in a moment’s notice, so providing the team with accurate information in a timely manner makes my role essential to the department.
Non-Pharm Fun
“To balance out my hectic day-to-day life in Emergency, I like to do hot yoga. My yoga practice gives me time to wind down while keeping fit, and allows some quiet time for self-reflection.
I am the proud mother of my maltipoo Izzie and my daughter Adela. Izzie and I spend time exploring the region on trail walks, and we will add another explorer to the mix this spring.”