Pharmacy Students KFSHRC Hospital Visit | Mentorship Program
Title: Pharmacy Students KFSHRC Hospital Visit Date: November 11, 2024
As part of the College of Pharmacy (COP) mentorship program, a series of field trips was initiated to introduce pharmacy students to various career opportunities. On Monday, November 11, 2024, pharmacy students from the University Preparatory Program (UPP) at Alfaisal University visited King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC), gaining valuable insights into hospital and clinical pharmacy operations. During the visit, students observed how clinical pharmacists collaborate with healthcare teams in the PICU to provide specialized care to critically ill patients. They also explored inpatient, outpatient, and satellite pharmacies, interacting with pharmacists to understand their roles in patient care. Clinical pharmacists were shown to work closely with physicians to address drug-related problems, while inpatient and satellite pharmacists prepare and verify inpatient medication prescriptions and clarify the prescriptions with the prescribing physicians to optimize patient care. Outpatient pharmacists, meanwhile, provide direct patient counseling to ensure safe and effective medication use. Additionally, students were introduced to advanced pharmacy automation systems, including Pyxis, Carousel, RIVA (Robotic IV Automation), and ScriptPro Robotic Prescription Dispensing System, which streamline medication management, improve dispensing accuracy, and support the safe preparation of intravenous medications. This enriching experience provided students with a deeper understanding of the vital roles hospital pharmacists play and the innovative technology supporting their work. Special thanks to the KFSHRC team and Dr. Khalid Taher, a PICU Consultant Clinical Pharmacist, Satellite Pharmacy Manager, and senior lecturer at Alfaisal University, for their guidance and mentorship during this inspiring visit.
