Microcost analysis of inpatient dispensing and administration of oral solids

The labor cost of dispensing, administering, and monitoring unit dose oral solid dosage forms (UDs) in a large teaching hospital was determined by microcost analysis. The costs associated with UDs dispensed by the midnight central pharmacy and by a satellite pharmacy were evaluated by use of both work-sampling and time-and-motion studies. Pharmacy personnel activities were classified as direct, auxiliary, or nonproductive. A nursing productivity index was used to determine the nursing time consumed in the administration and monitoring of UDs. The pharmacy labor cost was lowest ($0.14 each) for UDs dispensed from the central pharmacy in the 24-hour medication cart. For each UD that was not dispensed in the 24-hour cart, the labor cost was $0.25 for the central pharmacy and $1.37 for the satellite pharmacy. It took nurses 223.8 sec to administer and monitor a scheduled UD, for a cost of $0.82. The total nursing time spent per nonscheduled UD for administration and monitoring was 574.2 sec; the cost was $2.11. Microcost analysis can be used to isolate the costs of dispensing oral solids in an inpatient setting.