Continuous quality assurance monitoring by staff pharmacists

The article describes a system of continuous quality assurance monitoring which is accomplished by pharmacists at the medical center. This 856 bed Veterans Affairs facility is provided pharmacy services through a decentralized unit dose distribution system. Pharmacists are assigned to separate patient care areas and provide or coordinate all drug distribution functions and additionally provide clinically-oriented services including quality assurance intervention. Pharmacists are provided guidelines on selected medication therapy which warrant pharmacist monitoring to assure high quality of care. In addition to these guidelines, pharmacists are encouraged to intervene in other therapeutic areas where their expertise favorably impacts quality of patient care. A report of clinically significant intervention is prepared monthly and submitted to the Drug Use Evaluation Subcommittee for review. This report is distributed along with the Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee minutes to all pharmacists, physicians, and supervisory nursing personnel. The system of continuous quality assurance monitoring encourages pharmacists to use their expertise in a manner which assures quality of medical care provided by the medical center. Documentation of pharmacist intervention meets many JCAHO requirements for quality assurance.