Physicians' evaluation of clinical pharmacy revealed increased focus on quality improvement and cost savings

The aims of the present study were to evaluate physicians' satisfaction with medication services delivered by a clinical pharmacist (CP); to investigate and document to which extent a CP could improve the medication quality and reduce medication costs at an intensive care unit (ICU); and to explore which types of tasks the CP was asked to perform.

The project was conducted at an ICU from 1 February to 31 August 2008. The intervention consisted of certain tasks being performed by a CP. The intervention was evaluated on the basis of documentation of the intervention performed and on a questionnaire filled in by physicians at the end of the study.

The majority of the physicians reported that the CP's intervention had raised their attention to medication costs (70%) and medication quality (76%). This physician-reported impression correlated with the CP's intervention which improved medication quality and catalysed an annual estimated cost saving of at least DKK 330,000, which was achieved by targeting particular medication areas. The CP was asked to perform various medication-related tasks during the project period. Indeed, the physicians reported that they found the CP qualified to perform several medication-related tasks--and many physicians reported that they had benefitted from input regarding those tasks.

The intervention occasioned positive physician feedback on clinical pharmacy services and the study shows that the CP was perceived by the physicians as a valuable professional collaborator.