The Pharmacy Department at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center is committed to providing comprehensive, progressive pharmaceutical care to the resident population. The Pharmacy serves a myriad of age groups, with diagnoses that include acute and chronic psychiatric disorders, seizure disorders, developmental disabilities, and coexisting medical and physical disabilities. With such a diverse population and diagnoses, the scope of pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of the Center's residents encompasses a wide range of both medical and psychiatric medications.

The Pharmacy provides services for the residents and staff which include clinical pharmacy services, administrative services, drug distribution services, and information services. Delivering these services encompasses a wide variety of responsibilities which include being in compliance with the laws and regulations of state and federal agencies.

The department is staffed by licensed pharmacists, all of whom maintain continuing education competencies as a requirement of yearly re-licensure. In addition, the pharmacy technician staff members are all nationally certified and assist the pharmacists in providing pharmaceutical care to the residents. The department is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.on Monday through Friday and also limited hours on certain holidays. There is always a pharmacist on call when the Pharmacy is closed.

As active members of treatment teams, the pharmacists at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center provide drug regimen reviews on a quarterly basis for all residents. Annual written assessments and participation in the annual person- centered planning sessions for residents meeting the criteria are also provided by the department. The pharmacists participate in monthly neurology clinic and Human Rights Advocacy subcommittee meetings. The Pharmacy Department maintains a web page on the Center's internet site. Information contained on the page includes quarterly Pharmacy Newsletter, medical web sites, psychopharm survival guide, Pharmacy Policy manual, JIRDC formulary database, patient education monographs, and the night drug cabinet listing.

The department maintains a resident-specific unit-dose drug distribution system and utilizes a computer system to enter and access resident information. The computer system also tracks drug-drug and drug-food interactions. Basic demographic information (height, weight, age and sex), medication allergies, medication side effect information, diet and diagnoses are maintained in the computer database also. This information is utilized by the pharmacists in clinical screening and is printed on the monthly MARs and the quarterly POUs..

All new medication orders are checked for therapeutic duplications, potential drug and food interactions, allergy monitoring, correct dosage, and frequency of administration. This process allows for the identification and necessary intervention in cases of potential problems, thus minimizing medication related adverse events.