The Tawas St. Joseph Hospital pharmacy is comprised of Clinical pharmacists and Certified Pharmacy technicians, totaling 8 staff. The pharmacy provides drug distribution services to all hospital patient care departments and physician offices. The pharmacy staffs primary roles are that of medication safety, medication distribution, and drug information provision to physicians, nurses, other health care workers, and patients. The pharmacist monitors all medication therapies for proper dose, proper timing, drug interactions, allergy checking, therapy duplications, effective and safe administration, and associated education. The medication delivery system is computerized and involves the use of electronic medication cabinets at patient care units. IV admixtures, including chemotherapy for the Seton Cancer Center, are prepared in a sterile environment by pharmacy staff using sterile techniques commonly associated with a surgical environment. Pharmacists work not only in the pharmacy but also a pharmacist is staffed at the inpatient units so as to provide rapid access to drug information. Pharmacy staff participate in many hospital and medical committees to improve and enhance the delivery of health care. When the pharmacy is closed, a pharmacist is on call at all times for drug information and medication distribution services.

Additionally the pharmacy provides a coumadin clinic service for outpatients. This clinic is staffed by a pharmacist whom sees physician referred patients on an appointment basis. The pharmacist takes a finger prick blood sample to test for bleeding time, adjusts therapy, and provides patient education. Patients are usually scheduled on an every 4-5 week basis. The pharmacist provides the referring physician with a progress report after each visit.

Pharmacists provide continuing education programs for health care workers as well as community speaking engagements for various public organizations.

The Certified Pharmacy Technicians role is primarily the procuring and distribution of medications. With this role technicians have a lot of training and experience in medication safety so as to insure a safe, accurate, and timely delivery. Technicians have passed a national exam and must maintain a biannual quota of continuing education. Pharmacists have 5-6 years of college education in the medical sciences, pass a national exam, acquire continuing education annually, and must be licensed by the state of Michigan. Pharmacists must have knowledge and understanding of the thousands of pharmaceuticals utilized to treat various disease states so as to be an integral member of the health care team.