title: Characteristics of medication use during pediatric medical emergency team events and the role of a pharmacist-provided medication supply.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the type and frequency of and indications for medications used during pediatric medical emergency team (PMET) events and to describe a PMET pharmacist training model, creation of a standardized "pharmacist PMET supply," and the pharmacist's role in implementation and ongoing improvement of a PMET.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective observational cohort study of 210 PMET events in 172 patients in a tertiary care, academic pediatric hospital, from September 15, 2005, to September 15, 2007. We focused on the types and sources of medications used during PMET events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The medications most commonly used were lorazepam (11%), neuromuscular blockers (10.5%), atropine (9.5%), epinephrine bolus (9%), and albuterol or levalbuterol (9%). However, 49 distinct medications were used in 53.8% of all PMET events. Of all medications requested during a PMET event, only 40% originated from an institutionally standardized emergency medication box, while an additional 35% were readily available at the patient's bedside as part of the "pharmacist PMET supply."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A wide variety of medications are required to care for children who suffer acute in-hospital deterioration. The pharmacist's medication supply and expertise ensured immediate availability of therapies for clinical entities ranging from seizures and anaphylaxis to rapid sequence intubation, regardless of the PMET event location.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland  ; Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Melania M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bembea
authors.forename: Kristine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Rapan Parbuoni
authors.forename: Karen P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Veltri
authors.forename: Nicole A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Shilkofski
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McMillan-Nelson
authors.forename: Carlton K K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hunt