Episode 131. ED Boarding and the Emergency Medicine Pharmacist

In this episode of the Pharm So Hard Podcast, host Jimmy Pruitt, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, BCEMP, is joined by Brian Gilbert, PharmD, MBA, FCCM, FNCS, FCCP, FASHP, FKCHP, Heather Blue, PharmD, BCPS, FMSHP, BCEMP, Alyssa Robertson, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, BCEMP, and David Zimmerman, PharmD, BCCCP, BCEMP, FASHP, FCCP, to discuss one of the most pressing operational challenges facing emergency medicine pharmacists today: ED boarding.Drawing from their recent publication in the Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, the panel explores the growing tension between ensuring high-quality pharmacy care for boarded patients and protecting the core responsibilities of the emergency medicine pharmacist. As admitted patients remain in the emergency department for longer periods, many institutions have unintentionally shifted inpatient pharmacy responsibilities onto ED pharmacists without clearly defining ownership, creating challenges for patient safety, workflow efficiency, and pharmacist role sustainability.The discussion examines what emergency medicine pharmacists should own, what responsibilities belong to inpatient pharmacy teams, and how health systems can build workflows that provide appropriate care for boarded patients without compromising critical ED services such as resuscitations, time-sensitive medication decision-making, protocol development, and bedside emergency care. The panel also shares practical strategies for pharmacy leaders, directors, and frontline clinicians to address role drift, improve accountability, and create sustainable staffing models that support both boarded patients and emergency department operations. Whether you practice in an academic medical center, community hospital, or resource-limited setting, this episode provides actionable insights for defining pharmacy ownership and preserving the highest-impact contributions of emergency medicine pharmacists. ★ Support this podcast ★