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MODULE 22: THE HOSPITAL ECOSYSTEM
Section 2: The Inpatient Wards: Core Medical & Surgical Units
This is the heart of the hospital, where the majority of patients stay. We’ll explore the foundational units and the specialized wards that branch off from them, translating your core therapeutic knowledge into the inpatient environment.
From Pharmacy Aisles to Hospital Wards
Think of your community pharmacy’s layout. You have the main aisles where you find the medications for hypertension, diabetes, and pain—the “Top 200” drugs that form the backbone of your daily practice. This is the Medical-Surgical floor. It’s the general population, the foundational work you know inside and out.
But your pharmacy also has specialized sections. You have a dedicated aisle for cardiac care with specific monitoring devices and anticoagulants—that’s the Telemetry unit. You have a section with post-operative supplies, high-strength analgesics, and wound care—that’s a Surgical ward. And you have the corner where you prepare complex adherence packaging (blister packs) for patients needing extra help to manage their recovery at home—that’s the Acute Rehabilitation Unit.
You already understand the principle of organizing care around specific needs. This section will show you how that same logic applies to the hospital’s inpatient wards, giving you the confidence to navigate each specialized environment and apply your expertise precisely where it’s needed most.
What This Section Will Teach You
This section provides a deep dive into the core inpatient units, focusing on the unique clinical challenges and pharmacist-led interventions that define care in each area.
The Medical-Surgical (“Med-Surg”) Floor
Master the pharmacist’s foundational interventions—IV-to-PO conversions, pain management transitions, and anticoagulation—that are the bedrock of practice on the hospital’s busiest and most diverse units.
The Telemetry (“Tele”) Unit
Become the guardian of the QTc interval by learning to navigate the complexities of antiarrhythmic agents and manage the medication risks for a population under continuous cardiac monitoring.
Specialized Surgical Units
Dive into the unique post-operative needs of orthopedic and neurology patients, mastering specialized pain modalities like PCAs and epidurals, and perfecting VTE prophylaxis strategies.
The Acute Rehabilitation Unit (ARU)
Explore the pharmacist’s role in restoring patient function after life-altering events, focusing on medication regimen simplification, bowel protocol management, and ensuring a safe transition home.
