Protocols for pharmacists' intervention in a 160 bed hospital.

The structure of many hospital pharmacy departments has become decentralized in order to provide pharmacists and other health care professionals with access to patient records. This change in departmental structure decreases the manager's ability to supervise the clinical activities of staff pharmacists. A policy for pharmacist intervention was developed by the pharmacy department. The policy identifies actions to be taken in specific situations, thus serving to standardize care.