The pivotal role of pharmacists during the 2019 coronavirus pandemic.

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected over 3 million people worldwide with an estimated mortality rate of 5%. Owing to the diversity of training and the variety of positions within the pharmacy department, pharmacists are uniquely positioned in the hospital setting to play a pivotal role during the pandemic. The purpose of this article is to highlight the experiences and impactful interventions made by pharmacists practicing in a community teaching hospital at the center of the COVID-19 surge in New York City. Although often underrecognized, pharmacists are well-equipped to develop treatment plans based on the evolving literature that positively affect the patient outcomes by responding to inpatient emergencies, and optimizing the medication orders to conserve and maintain a healthy supply of medications for the hospital.