Riverside Hospital's Pharmacy Services

Riverside District Memorial Hospital (RDMH) is a small rural hospital that must work within an operational budget that is determined by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in a Canadian province. This case identifies the emergence of concerns for patient safety related to medication administration, and the challenges of ensuring professional services are maintained by the pharmacy department to serve patients admitted to hospital. The chief nursing executive (CNE) must decide what steps should be taken to reduce this exposure in the context of the complex relationships in which RDMH exists.