Surgical pharmacy for catalyzing pharmacy service throughout surgical continuum

The greater the complementarity between pharmacists’ knowledge and doctors’ knowledge, the more significant the role pharmacists can play in clinical practice. Physicians extensively use drugs for disease management and are well-versed in the medications related to their specialties. Conversely, surgeons often prioritize surgical procedures over medication, which can lead to more frequent irrational drug uses in surgical departments compared to internal medicine department. Given this, pharmacists could play a pivotal role in surgical departments. In 2018, the Guangdong Province Pharmaceutical Association (GDPA) in China advocated for the establishment of surgical pharmacist in hospitals. Surgical pharmacists are tasked with overseeing all aspects of medication management during the perioperative period and beyond and serve as a bridge between surgeons and physicians. The GDPA has established "surgical pharmacy" as a distinct knowledge system for surgical pharmacists, which is defined as a specialty that studies the characteristics of surgical medication, seeks the most suitable medication therapy and addresses medication-related problems for surgical patients to improve clinical outcomes. Focus on perioperative medications, such as anti-infection, anti-thrombosis, analgesia, nutrition, blood sugar, blood pressure, fluid, nausea and vomiting management, and glucocorticoid use. In Guangdong province, many major hospitals have now established surgical pharmacist positions, accepted by surgeons and physicians. Unlike pharmacists in surgical settings outside of China, those endorsed by the GDPA engage directly in patient care through collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM), positioning them as integral members of the surgical team alongside surgeons and anesthetists rather than members of the multidisciplinary team, having their own specialty - "surgical pharmacy". Thereby surgeons concentrate on surgical procedures and anesthetists on anesthesia, while pharmacists focus on medication therapy. This delineation enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of patient care in surgical departments.