About Pharmacy Services

London Health Sciences Centre's (LHSC) Pharmacy Services operates as a single department across all our locations:

• University Hospital
• Victoria Hospital
• South Street Hospital
• London Regional Cancer Program
• Children's Hospital

LHSC is a leader in progressive hospital pharmacy practice and has a strong history of innovation to the profession.

Some important contributions made by LHSC's Pharmacy Services:

• University Hospital opened as one of the first unit dose and centralized I.V. admixture hospitals in Canada
• computerized medication profiles and pharmacy-printed Medication Administration Records have been in use since 1979
• developed one of the first regional Drug Information Centres (LonDIS) in Ontario
• Hospital Pharmacy Residency program has been in operation since 1967
• University Hospital was one of the first Canadian hospitals to implement a decentralized pharmacist staffing model, as a means of promoting clinical pharmacy practice
• the 2nd Automated Dispensing machine in Canada was installed at Victoria Hospital

The role of pharmacy technicians has advanced at LHSC, with technicians actively involved in medication distribution duties, including 'tech-check tech' dispensing. This enables pharmacists to concentrate primarily on clinical activities. Pharmacists spend the majority of their time involved with direct patient care activities.

The pharmacy department has a staff of 200 full time, part time and casual employees. Service is provided to three sites (Victoria Hospital, University Hospital and South Street Hospital). Pharmacy Service is also provided to the London Regional Cancer Program which operates from the Victoria Hospital site and the department operates two accredited retail pharmacies. LRCP provides a retail service exclusively for patients of LRCP.

There is an active teaching program with involvement in undergraduate teaching for the University of Toronto and Waterloo pharmacist programs; hospital training placements for Fanshawe College and St. Clair College pharmacy technician programs and five annual postgraduate Hospital Pharmacy Residents.

The department participates in Clinical Trials Research. Several staff roles are dedicated to supporting clinical trials associated with the University of Western Ontario, Lawson Health Research Institute, Robarts Research Institute and several in-house drug trials. The department is also recognized internationally for the work of our staff in developing a methodology involving Evidence Based review to assist with Formulary and therapeutic decisions.

Each member of the pharmacy team supports the goal of improving the quality of life for all patients. Through innovation and collaboration they are dedicated to providing pharmaceutical care and supportive practices with an emphasis on excellence in service, training, education and research.