Documentation of pharmacist interventions in a decentralized unit dose system

The purpose of this study was to justify the increased costs of providing decentralized pharmacy service by defining therapeutic interventions as they relate to improved patient care and by documenting cost savings generated by decentralized pharmacist interventions. Data were collected on a daily basis from information provided by the decentralized pharmacists using a daily worksheet. The various interventions were then categorized as cost-saving interventions and therapeutic interventions. Decentralized pharmacist interventions do provide important therapeutic interventions as well as cost-effective interventions. The total cost-saving interventions in 1989 was $126,509 and this included the automatic drug conversions. The pharmacists also provided 2506 therapeutic interventions.