In the absence of a Institutional Pharmacist: if the patient is an inpatient, a patient profile containing the patient's name, location, allergies, current medication regimen, and relevant lab values must be reviewed by the RPh within ---------

• A. 24 hours
• B. 48 hours
• C. 72 hours
• D. 96 hours

Answer: (C)

Patient safety hinges on a pharmacist reviewing the inpatient profile when there isn’t an on-site institutional pharmacist. The review should occur within 72 hours of admission so the pharmacist can verify the patient’s identity, location, allergies, current medication regimen, and relevant lab values, and use that information to detect potential drug interactions, duplications, or contraindications as therapy is started or adjusted. A 72-hour window strikes a balance between timely safety checks and the realities of busy inpatient workflows, ensuring issues are caught early in the stay without delaying care. Waiting longer, like 96 hours, increases the risk of unrecognized drug problems, while rushing to 24 or 48 hours may be impractical without an on-site pharmacist. If anything changes—new orders, allergies, or lab results—the profile should be reviewed promptly to maintain safe, appropriate therapy.