Background

The first Clinical Pharmacy Conclave –CP Conclave 2025 (CP CON) was conducted with the theme ‘Know your Drug’.

The Brave New World of Clinical Pharmacy – Exciting, with Investigation, Audit and Research ensuring Patient Safety and Optimal Clinical Outcomes“- was held on 28th June 2025 (9.15am to 5pm) at Kauvery Hospital, Trichy. The event was organized by the Group Clinical Pharmacy Team.

The talks covered various dimensions of the theme by subject experts. In today’s rapidly advancing healthcare landscape, clinical pharmacy has emerged as a critical pillar of patient safety and therapeutic optimization.

From conducting drug audits and investigations, to spearheading research initiatives, clinical pharmacists are at the forefront of ensuring that every patient receives the highest standard of care.

As we embark on this day of learning and exploration, let us remember the profound impact that clinical pharmacy can have on patient safety and clinical outcomes. The conclave is not just an event—it is a platform for innovation, a celebration of knowledge, and a commitment to excellence.

This article summarizes the proceeding of the CP Conclave where key discussion took place all day in which every one equally participated.

Chief Mentor Address by Dr. Suresh Venkita

The conclave commenced with an inspiring address by our Group Medical Director (GMD) , whose visionary leadership and mentorship have been instrumental in shaping the organization’s culture of excellence. In his opening remarks, the GMD emphasized the importance of continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration in advancing patient care. He encouraged all participants to embrace new ideas, share knowledge, and work together to overcome challenges in healthcare delivery. His words set a positive and motivating tone for the day’s scientific sessions, reminding everyone of the vital role that dedication and teamwork play in achieving clinical and organizational success. The audience was deeply moved by his guidance, and his address served as a powerful reminder of the values that unite and inspire the entire team.

Scientific Sessions

Following the inspiring address by our Group Medical Director (GMD), the conclave transitioned into its first scientific session, setting the tone of academic vigor and rigor and clinical relevance for the day.

The session began with an enlightening presentation by Mr. R. Vignesh, Clinical Pharmacist at Kauvery Hospital Heart City, Trichy, who spoke on “A Prospective Observational Study on the Prescription of Guideline-Directed Medical Treatment for Heart Failure.”

Mr. Vignesh’s presentation offered a detailed exploration of how real-world prescribing patterns for heart failure compare with established clinical guidelines. He meticulously outlined the methodology and findings of his observational study, which revealed that there is often a significant gap between recommended guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and actual clinical practice. He discussed various barriers contributing to this gap, including factors such as patient comorbidities, physician preferences, and systemic challenges within healthcare delivery.

A particularly important interpretation from his session was the pivotal role pharmacists can play in bridging this gap. He highlighted how pharmacists, through medication review, patient counselling, and collaboration with physicians, can help ensure that patients receive therapies aligned with the latest evidence-based guidelines. He also emphasized the importance of ongoing education and multidisciplinary teamwork in optimizing heart failure management. The key point from his presentation was that pharmacist-led interventions are instrumental in improving adherence to heart failure guidelines, which directly translates to better patient outcomes and reduced hospital readmissions. The session concluded with an engaging discussion, where participants shared practical challenges and potential solutions for implementing GDMT in diverse clinical settings.

After the tea break, the conclave reconvened for the second scientific session, which featured Ms. S. Lavanaya, Clinical Pharmacist at Kauvery Hospital, Cantonment, Trichy. Her topic, “Pharmacist Interpretation of Critical Values,” addressed a crucial aspect of patient safety and acute care.

She addressed the challenges pharmacists face in acute care settings, such as high workload, communication barriers, and the need for rapid decision-making. She shared practical strategies for overcoming these obstacles, including the use of standardized protocols, effective communication tools, and ongoing professional development. The key point from her session was that pharmacists’ expertise in interpreting critical values and adjusting medication regimens not only prevent adverse drug events but also significantly enhance patient safety and the overall quality of care. Her presentation was followed by an interactive Q&A, where attendees discussed real-life scenarios and the impact of pharmacist intervention in emergency situations.

Chief Guest oration by Mr. Aravind Ganesan

Following the earlier scientific discussions, Mr. Aravind Ganesan, Group Head – Digital Strategy & Healthcare Investment at Kauvery Hospital, presented his review of “AI in Clinical Pharmacy.” He outlined how artificial intelligence is reshaping pharmacy practice by enabling faster, data-driven medication reviews and improving the detection of potential drug interactions. Mr. Ganesan emphasized that AI serves as a valuable support system for pharmacists, enhancing their ability to deliver personalized and safer patient care. He also touched upon the challenges of integrating AI responsibly, including data security and the need for collaboration among healthcare professionals. The session concluded with active engagement from attendees eager to explore AI’s potential in clinical settings.

Managing Director thoughts at conclusion of the pre- lunch  session

Clinical pharmacists today are not just medication dispensers—they are critical thinkers, patient advocates, and essential partners in the healthcare team.

Their role in *reducing medication errors* is not just valuable—it’s life-saving. Whether it’s reviewing prescriptions, checking for interactions, or ensuring correct dosing, clinical pharmacists safeguard our patients at every step.

By working closely with physicians, nurses, and caregivers, pharmacists help personalize therapy, minimize adverse effects, and improve patient outcomes. This collaboration is key to the *future of evidence-based and error-free healthcare*.

As we move forward, it’s essential to provide clinical pharmacists with the right tools, continuous learning, and support to work effectively. Their contribution is not optional—it’s integral to quality patient care.

Let us continue to recognize, invest in, and empower our clinical pharmacy teams—for a safer, smarter, and more compassionate healthcare system.

Senior Clinical Pharmacist Insights

In this insightful session, Mr. Vinoth elaborated on the evolving and essential roles of Clinical Pharmacists (CPs) in modern healthcare. He emphasized the importance of CP involvement in lipid profile analysis, where their expertise supports better therapeutic decision-making and monitoring of dyslipidemia-related treatments.

He also highlighted narcotic usage monitoring in clinical units, stressing the significance of CP vigilance in ensuring compliance, safety, and optimal pain management practices.

That session was continued and completed by Ms. Surya Prabha, she highlighted the importance of monitoring Triggers. It was very useful to know the values of monitoring parameters and how that reflects in patient care.

A key takeaway was the role of CPs in medication error monitoring and the analysis of investigation reports to understand disease patterns and treatment responses. Mr. Vinoth encouraged all CPs to take active responsibility in identifying, reporting, and educating teams on medication-related problems, thus strengthening patient safety and care outcomes.

In her heartfelt session, Ms. Bini shared powerful real-life experiences from her clinical journey at Kauvery Hospital. She beautifully conveyed that while medicine heals the body, empathy heals the heart, emphasizing the human side of healthcare.

She spoke about the value of continuous learning and reminded the fellow Clinical Pharmacists that every small effort counts and can create meaningful change over time. Her session concluded with a strong message:

“Every medication review is an opportunity to protect a patient from harm.”

Her words served as an inspiration, reinforcing the CP’s vital role in both clinical experience and compassionate care

Most anticipated Debate on the Vaccines

Totally 6 participants participated in the debate on the subject on focus- “Vaccines do Help Vs Vaccines do Harm”. The vigorous and sparking event was moderated by Dr. Suresh Venkita. Each participant actively participated and delivered the scientific facts with valid points on their respective side. The subject itself created a huge interest among the participants and the audience. Finally, the moderator calmed the fiery debate and argument by pointing out that that the vaccines indeed save lives but at the same time possible side effects and harms should be taken into consideration. Finally, we conducted a poll from the audience to vote. The voting results showed most of the participants believed that vaccines do more help than harm.

Fresh-up the mind with some games and MIME video

While knowledge-sharing remains at the core of the conclave, the organizing committee had thoughtfully incorporated an engaging lineup of Connection Fun Games, designed to encourage networking in a relaxed manner, break hierarchical barriers, improve team communication skills, enhance problem-solving abilities through play, and ultimately boost participant engagement and morale.

Conclusion

As the curtains  were drawn on this impactful CP Conclave, we stood empowered—not just by knowledge, but by the collective voice and vision of clinical pharmacists. This platform echoed the importance of our role in bridging science and patient care, in research, and in real-time clinical decisions. Let this not be an end, but a bold beginning—where every prescription is backed by insight, every intervention drives outcomes, and every clinical pharmacist becomes an undeniable pillar in the healthcare system.

We are not just part of the system—we are shaping it.

Kauvery Hospital