For the second consecutive year, SMC’s Pharmacy Department was recently honored by the Communicable Disease Service of the NJ Department of Health with a Silver Antimicrobial Steward Award for its success with the antimicrobial stewardship program at SMC.
According to John Ferreria, PharmD, BCPS, the program allows multiple disciplines throughout the hospital to work together with a common goal of supporting safe use of antimicrobials and promoting education and awareness about antimicrobial use to treat and protect our patients.
“Our program has become a success because of a team effort across all specialties here,” said Ferreria, Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator. “We have significantly decreased overall antibiotics use/prescribing and antimicrobial costs over the last five years. We have helped maintain a very low rate of healthcare-associated infections such as Clostridium Difficile.”
Optimizing the use of antibiotics is critical to effectively treat infections, protect patients from harm caused by unnecessary antibiotic use, and combat antibiotic resistance. These programs help clinicians improve outcomes and minimize harm by improving antibiotic prescribing.
“Our department is among an elite group that has remained steadfast to promote antimicrobial stewardship practices that encourage and maintain the health of our patients, residents, personnel, and the general population,” said Director of Pharmacy Patricia Palmieri, RPh, MBA.