A satellite pharmacy program in a community hospital

A satellite (decentralized) pharmacy program in a medium-size community hospital is described. The hospital is a private institution consisting of three divisions: an acute-care division, a psychiatric division, and a long-term care division. Pharmacy services are provided on an around-the-clock basis, and the satellites are operational 16 hours daily. Pharmacy services include unit dose distribution, I.V. admixture services, and clinical pharmacy programs. Structurally, the department is divided into four satellite units and a central pharmacy unit to provide care to all areas of the health center. The professional staff is divided into several categories as a means to overcome the difficulties and take full advantage of all of the benefits of the satellite system. The Associate Director and the Assistant Director perform primarily administrative functions in order to maintain overall control, coordination, and quality assurance of the department. The Education Coordinator helps maintain the level of basic competence of the staff and coordinates the development and implementation of new departmental programs. Staff Pharmacists II provide both administrative and professional functions in their roles as team leaders of individual satellite units. Staff Pharmacists I serve the traditional staff functions in a satellite unit or in the central pharmacy.