The clinical rotation in Restorative Health unit (BVIEW) rotation provides the Pharmacy Resident with training and experience caring for patients’ transition to LTC from an acute site. Patients have a variety of medical conditions, including but not limited to: pain management, psychiatry, dementia, diabetes, anemia, common infections, cardiovascular diseases, geriatric medicine, gastroenterology, and respiratory diseases.

Gorge Road Hospital Site

This particular rotation occurs on the 3rd floor of Gorge Road Hospital (GRH), called the Bridgeview (BVIEW) unit. BVIEW has gone over census to have a capacity for approximately 50 patients presenting with various medical issues awaiting placement at their selected Long-term care (LTC) sites. The patients come to BVIEW from acute sites. Patients will transfer from the acute sites: RJH/VGH or be admitted from other sites Saanich Peninsula Hospital, Cowichan District Hospital, Nanaimo Regional Hospital (SPH, CDH, NRH).

The Restorative Health (RH) team at GRH BVIEW units consists of currently 2 house physicians (~20 hrs per week), Geriatric Psychiatrist (visit ~Q 2-4 weeks as requested by unit, registered nurses (RN), licensed practical nurses (LPN), registered care aides, occupational therapist (OT), social workers, recreational therapists, dieticians, nurse liaisons, and a clinical pharmacist.

A majority of rotation time is spent on direct patient care activities, including but not limited to:

• active participation in patient care rounds twice per week (currently Tues/Thurs)
• developing and implementing care and monitoring plans
• interviewing and counselling patients
• assisting with medication reconciliation
• Documenting Electronic Best Possible Medication History (eBPMH) for admissions or missed BPMH’s at the acute sites
• obtaining patient’s own medications
• proposing interventions, drug tapers (e.g. antipsychotic med tapers) and discussing care plans with physicians and team members
• documenting interventions and recommendations in the patient’s chart/Powerchart using ClinDoc
• performing and documenting Pharmacist Consultations on Powerchart
• answering drug information questions (DIRs) from patients, family members, physicians, and nurses
• assisting in acquiring special authority
• monitoring and adjusting medications using therapeutic drug monitoring and application of pharmacokinetics

Aberdeen Pharmacy Hospital Site

This site services at the Victoria area LTC sites, and 2 Restorative Health sites for Island Heath. This site has the Registered Pharmacy site coordinator, Pharmacy Technicians and other clinical pharmacists. The clinical pharmacist may need to help with dispensary shifts. All Clinical Pharmacists have at least a 4 hour shift per week to understand the order entry/verification process, as well as learning and understanding the CPOE of upcoming activation of electronic MARs and order entry at Island Health sites. It also helps them understand the inventory and meet the technicians that you will be working with. It may be beneficial to have a day or two at this site.

The remainder of the time is comprised of working on assigned projects and presentations for the care team or pharmacy department and participating in therapeutic discussions on relevant medical conditions. The resident is provided with informal feedback on a daily basis and is formally evaluated at the rotation midpoint and at the end of rotation by their preceptor(s).