ASHP national survey of hospital-based pharmaceutical services--1990

The results of a national mail survey of pharmaceutical services in community hospitals conducted by ASHP during May through July 1990 are reported and compared with the results of earlier ASHP surveys. A sample of community hospitals (short-term, nonfederal) was selected randomly from the population of community hospitals registered by the American Hospital Association. Questionnaires were mailed to each director of pharmacy. The adjusted gross sample size was 881. The net response rate was 66% (582 usable replies). The average number of hours of pharmacy operation per week reported by the respondents was 96. Complete unit dose drug distribution was offered by 89% of the respondents (up from 74% in 1987). About 70% offered complete, comprehensive i.v. admixture programs (essentially unchanged from 1987). Most of the hospitals (70%) had centralized pharmaceutical services. A computerized pharmacy system was present in 64% of the departments, and 75% had at least one microcomputer. More than 90% reported participation in adverse drug reaction and drug-use evaluation programs. Some 80% participated in drug therapy monitoring. Almost half of the respondents regularly provided written documentation of pharmacist interventions in patients' medical records. Approximately one third provided patient education or counseling, and one third provided drug management of medical emergencies. A well-controlled formulary system was in place in 58% of the hospitals; therapeutic interchange was practiced by 49%. A total of 98% of the respondents participated in group purchasing, and 96% used a prime vendor. Half of the departments served as training sites for pharmacy students. Less than half had a staff development program, but about two thirds supported continuing-education activities for pharmacists. The 1990 survey revealed a continuation of the changes in many hospital-based pharmaceutical services documented in earlier surveys and identified static areas that merit the attention of pharmacy leaders.