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The Pharmacy Stockout

A critical medication for your patient is out of stock. Call the hospital pharmacist to discuss and approve a suitable, available alternative.

  1. 1
    Briefing
  2. 2
    Simulation
  3. 3
    Feedback

How This Works

This is an interactive phone call simulation. You'll speak with Dr. Davis (Pharmacist) in a realistic clinical communication scenario.

1. Start Call

Click "Start Call" when you're ready. Speak naturally as you would on a real call.

2. Have the Conversation

10 minutes to complete the call. The AI responds in real-time to what you say.

3. Get Feedback

End the call when finished. You'll receive AI-powered feedback on your communication.

💡 Tip: Speak clearly and at a natural pace. If you need a moment to think, it's okay to pause briefly - just as you would in a real conversation.

Briefing Details

1. Learning: Collaborating with Pharmacy

Purpose of this Scenario

Pharmacists are essential colleagues and experts in medication management. This scenario simulates a common interaction: addressing a medication shortage. Drug stockouts are a frequent systems-issue in hospitals. A successful resolution requires a collaborative, not a confrontational, conversation with the pharmacist to identify a safe and effective alternative for your patient.

Key communication strategies include:

  • State the Problem Clearly: "Hi, I'm calling about patient John Smith. I was just notified that the Zosyn I ordered is out of stock."
  • Provide Clinical Context: Briefly explain the patient's situation and why the medication was ordered. "He's a patient with hospital-acquired pneumonia, and I was trying to cover for pseudomonas."
  • Ask for Their Expertise: This is the key to a collaborative relationship. "Given the shortage, what are your recommendations for an alternative with a similar spectrum of coverage?"
  • Confirm and Close the Loop: Verbally agree on the new medication and confirm that you will place the new order. "Okay, Cefepime sounds like a great alternative. I will cancel the old order and put in a new one now. Thank you for your help."

2. Scenario Briefing

Your Objective

You are the resident physician. You have a patient with hospital-acquired pneumonia and you ordered a broad-spectrum antibiotic (Piperacillin-Tazobactam, or "Zosyn"). The nurse has just informed you that the pharmacy sent a notification that Zosyn is on a nationwide backorder and is out of stock. Your objective is to call the pharmacist, Dr. Davis, to discuss the situation and choose an appropriate alternative antibiotic.

Patient Background

Your patient is a 70-year-old man in the ICU who developed a hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). You need an antibiotic that covers a broad range of bacteria, including Pseudomonas.

The Systemic Barrier

  • The Ordered Drug: Piperacillin-Tazobactam (Zosyn).
  • The Problem: The drug is out of stock.
  • The Clinical Need: You still need a broad-spectrum antibiotic with Pseudomonas coverage.
  • Potential Alternatives: Other antibiotics with similar coverage include Cefepime, Meropenem, or a combination of other agents. The pharmacist will know which of these are available and preferred on the hospital formulary.

Learning Objectives

Optional prep details

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Optional Pre-Call Knowledge Check

Optional self-check before you start

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After completing this scenario, you will be able to:

  • Identify suitable therapeutic alternatives for an out-of-stock medication by considering the patient's clinical context and drug class.
  • Formulate a clear and concise SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) report to communicate a medication availability issue to a pharmacist.
  • Explain the patient safety implications of a medication stockout and the importance of timely resolution.

When preparing to call the pharmacy about a medication stockout, what is the most effective initial approach?

A pharmacist suggests switching to a therapeutic alternative from the same drug class. What is a critical patient safety consideration?