Hospital pharmacy
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Patient controlled analgesia (PCA) is a proven method of administering analgesics via programmable infusion devices to relieve postoperative pain and pain associated with terminal illnesses. In mid-1989, a pain management service was started in the authors' hospital by the anesthesiology service. Since pharmacists had been previously involved in PCA postoperative pain management, it was decided they would continue in that capacity with the pain management service. ⋯ All subsequent programming including dose changes, rate changes, boluses, bag changes, and problem resolution are the responsibility of the staff pharmacists. Pharmacists are periodically certified in programming skills as part of the department's quality assurance program. In 1990, over 1800 patients received the benefits of this innovative service.