During his 25 years at University Hospital, Clifton Latiolais radically transformed pharmacy services and the role of pharmacists in hospitals by:
- Helping to build a hospital formulary that assured only the safest and most effective drugs were used for patients
- Implementing unit of use medication packaging that dramatically reduced errors
- Pioneering continuous pharmacy services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Creating a nuclear pharmacy dispensing service forthe hospital
- Establishing a standardized drug information service and complete Drug Information Center
Most notably, in 1965, Latiolais developed the first IV Admixture Program in a teaching hospital – a breakthrough in hospital pharmacy. Admixture is the mixing of sterile solutions for delivery to patients through an IV drip, a process traditionally performed by nurses prior to Latiolais’ program. Through a joint effort with several manufacturers, Ohio State also pioneered the use of plastic IV bags – avoiding the need for expensive glass bottles.
During his tenure at Ohio State, Latiolais established a graduate and residency program that has produced directors of pharmacy at many of the top teaching hospitals in the nation. Latiolais mentored 129 outstanding leaders in hospital pharmacy and pharmacy education who continue to have an enormous impact on what is now the health-system Pharmacy Enterprise. Many of these and subsequent graduates hold prominent positions in the profession.
The short and sweet: Clifton Latiolais brought the modern age of hospital pharmacy to Ohio State, which became an example for hospitals around the country.
Submitted by the College of Pharmacy