Implementation and operation of a hospital pediatric satellite pharmacy

The planning, implementation, operation, and evaluation of a hospital pediatric satellite pharmacy are described. An initial three-month project involving establishment of a pediatric satellite pharmacy that provided unit dose drug distribution, intravenous admixtures, and a few clinical services was completed and evaluated. Positive evaluations by the medical and nursing staffs resulted in continuation of the satellite as a permanent program. Clinical services initially provided by the pediatric pharmacist were expanded to include acquisition of admission drug histories, instruction on discharge medication, participation on pediatric medical rounds and on the pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest team, operation of the poison control center, distribution of pediatric drug information, preparation of chemotherapy and monitoring of investigational protocols, and provision of pediatric nursing inservice education and community education. A five-year evaluation of the services provided by the pediatric satellite pharmacy was completed by 71 pediatric nurses and 27 Mayo Clinic physicians, all of whom had worked with the system regularly. The tabulated results are presented. Responses to overall services of the pediatric pharmacy were designated good to excellent by 100% of the physicians and by 98.6% of the nurses, indicating that the pediatric satellite pharmacy is a successful and beneficial program at this institution.