Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center’s (EMRMC) Pharmacy Department has been honored with three awards from the Kentucky Society of Health-System Pharmacists (KSHP). The awards recognize both individual excellence and innovative pharmacy-led initiatives that have improved patient care.

Kourtney Shewmaker was named KSHP Pharmacist of the Year, an award given to a pharmacist who demonstrates outstanding leadership, service, and contributions to the profession.

In addition to this individual recognition, EMRMC’s Transition of Care (TOC) team and its Fluid Restriction Strategy initiative each received KSHP awards for their work to strengthen patient safety, improve care processes, and support hospital operations during challenging circumstances.

“We are honored to receive these awards,” said Joan Haltom, Pharm.D., FKSHP, System Director of Pharmacy at Ephraim McDowell Health. “This recognition would not have been possible without our dedicated and highly skilled pharmacy team. Every day, they work to ensure our patients receive the safest, highest-quality care.”

Award-Winning Programs

Transition of Care (TOC) Team

The TOC program focuses on helping patients move safely and smoothly from the hospital to home. This pharmacist-led team works with nurses, physicians, case management, and other departments to:

• Deliver discharge medications directly to the patient’s bedside before they leave the hospital.
• Identify cost or insurance barriers and connect patients with financial assistance when needed.
• Improve communication between care teams to ensure medications are accurate, updated, and easy for patients to understand.
• Reduce delays in the discharge process and improve overall patient satisfaction.
• Gather complete and accurate medication histories when patients are admitted, helping prevent medication errors.

Fluid Restriction Strategy

In Fall 2024, Hurricane Helene caused severe damage to a major IV fluid manufacturer in North Carolina, triggering a nationwide shortage. This shortage had the potential to disrupt patient care across nearly every department.

To protect patients and ensure continuity of care, the EMRMC inpatient pharmacy quickly launched a system-wide Fluid Restriction Strategy:

• Weekly multidisciplinary meetings were held to monitor IV fluid usage and adjust conservation plans.
• Prior to the shortage, EMRMC used about 800 bags of IV fluids per week, with only a four-day supply available. The goal was to cut usage by 60%—to fewer than 320 bags weekly.
• All departments participated, and the hospital consistently exceeded its conservation targets throughout October and November 2024.
• By continuing to refine its strategy, EMRMC ultimately achieved an 80% reduction in IV fluid use through March 2025.
• Importantly, these efforts ensured that no patient care areas were negatively affected.