New revenue and improved services in handling ambulatory radiology patients

In 1978, the Pharmacy Department at the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center succeeded in establishing a procedure whereby all drugs used for outpatient radiology procedures were dispensed from the pharmacy and were no longer handed out by radiology clerks. Additional revenue was generated for the medical center because the pharmacy started to charge patients for the drugs, which had not been done previously. This was accomplished with no increase in personnel. The procedures have been operating successfully for six months.