The purpose of this paper is to summarize the need for an emergency pharmacist program, discuss the evidence showing that an Emergency pharmacist program is effective, and provide information and resources that can be used by hospitals considering the implementation of an Emergency pharmacist program. Emergency pharmacist programs have existed since the 1970s, but until recently, they have been rare. Their development in the emergency department (ED) is a result of the unique clinical environment that exists in the ED, which is considered high risk for adverse drug events from a systems perspective. The primary aims of the Emergency pharmacist program are to diminish the risks of adverse events and to reduce costs. The innovative Emergency pharmacist program works with the varied staff in the ED to improve medication safety and provide pharmacologic information to staff. This paper provides substantiation of the value of an Emergency pharmacist program and describes the details of the Emergency pharmacist role when optimized for patient safety.