Barnabas Health Behavioral Health Center

The RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center is a free-standing 100 bed acute care psychiatric facility which provides inpatient and intensive outpatient programs for adults and older adults diagnosed with psychiatric and dual diagnosis disorders. We are committed to serving our patients and providing a high level of care for our patients.

The pharmacy is located centrally in the building and is a pillar of providing medications, research, drug information, and clinical support for complex cases. The Barnabas Health Behavioral Health Center utilizes computerized physician order entry (CPOE), automated dispensing cabinets (ADC), and barcode medication administration (BCMA). These IT solutions allow the pharmacy to operate at high efficiency, enabling pharmacists to focus on clinical aspects of patient’s treatment.

One unique aspect of the RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center is that our prescribers are hired by our hospital, allowing the pharmacy to collaborate closely with our psychiatrists and advanced practice nurses. Our pharmacists are relied upon by all disciplines throughout our facility and are a frequently called upon to assist in problem solving. Our pharmacists participate in patient rounds and multi-disciplinary treatment teams throughout the week. The clinical activities our pharmacists perform include: pain consultations, anticoagulation monitoring and dosing, monitoring of all drug levels, medication reconciliation, medication
education through inpatient and outpatient groups, diabetes education to inpatients and outpatients, pharmacogenetic analysis, and antimicrobial drug monitoring.

The pharmacy is staffed by 3 full time pharmacists, 2 part time pharmacists and 1 full time technician during daytime hours and is operating until midnight by 1 full time pharmacist. The pharmacy at RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center precepts over 20 students per year and is currently in candidate status for an ASHP accredited PGY2 psychiatric residency.

Barnabas Health Behavioral Health Pharmacy Leadership