“Salman has been instrumental in building collaborative relationships between the pharmacy and the physicians,” she said. “His knowledge of critical care pharmacology and his passion for improving the health of his patients make him an asset to our department and the hospital.”

Here’s more about Rahim in his own words:

What did you want to be as a kid, and how did you ultimately choose your career?

In high school, my teacher asked what I wanted to be. When I told her I wanted to be a pharmacist, she said I was good at anatomy and should think about being a physician, but I just wanted to be a pharmacist. I’ve never had second thoughts about it. I love what I do.

A lot of people don’t really know what pharmacists do. They think we just give out medications. But I round with physicians, and they consult with me about different medications and ask me about dosages. I look at patients’ labs and do research to make sure what I’m recommending is appropriate. I love working with the physicians to make the best choices for the patient. I’ve been here for almost 12 years, and they trust me. They feel comfortable talking to me about what they want and asking for my input.

What’s a typical day look like?

When I come in, I check on my patients’ labs and look at the orders that have come in, making notes to prepare for my rounds. I need to be ready for physicians’ questions, and I need to know what’s happened in the past 24 hours. We have a lot of patients in the intensive care unit, so the time goes fast. I also cover the cardiac unit, so I also check on those patients. I look at their renal function, their potassium levels and see if I have any recommendations about medications we can stop or change, or any antibiotic adjustments we can make. Every day is different because every patient is different. It keeps you on your toes.

During my rounds, I meet with ICU nurses, physicians on the medical staff and care transition managers. The physician asks questions of each person to discuss what’s going on with the patient, what’s happened in the past 24 hours and what’s the plan for discharge.

What do you enjoy most about your job, and what are your biggest challenges?

I love the people I work with – the other pharmacists, the nurses and the physicians. And I appreciate the chance to collaborate so much with the other care team members.

The main challenge is drug shortages. Especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, the market is really saturated. Patients stay longer in the hospital, or they require medication longer. So the biggest hurdle we face is supply interruptions. For example, during the snowstorm, we didn’t get medications for four days because our suppliers couldn’t deliver. We talked to the physicians and nurses and explained that they needed to be patient, and we looked for alternatives where we could. I’m glad that week is over! To me, a challenge is not something that makes you stop; it’s something we can and will overcome.

How are you and your department working to improve care?

I make sure I round with physicians and nurses, and never stopped doing it even during COVID. I don’t like to just call the physician; I like to see them in person, so they get to know me and what kind of work I’m putting in. It helps build the relationship.

We also attend all code blues, anything with a cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest. And we report near misses, so we track when we catch things and not just when things go wrong. It’s a systemwide initiative, but we were already doing that. We all watch our patients very diligently, and we look at antibiotic stewardship on a daily basis.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I’m not on any social media. I tried it about 15 years ago, but it’s just not for me.

Pictured: Pharmacist Salman Rahim consults about a patient with ICU nurse Stacey Shepherd

By Jubin P. Loveman • Posted Posted March 2, 2021