Creating organizational value by leveraging the multihospital pharmacy enterprise.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Pharmacy Administration
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Multihospital health systems face challenges in optimizing pharmacy services.
• Pharmacy integration across multiple sites is a growing trend.
• Demonstrating value from integrated pharmacy services is crucial for organizational success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey pharmacy leaders in multihospital systems about service integration.
• To identify commonly integrated pharmacy services and value quantification methods.
• To determine barriers to integration and strategies for success.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive 59-question electronic survey was distributed to pharmacy executives at approximately 160 US multihospital systems in September 2016.
• The survey evaluated the level of pharmacy service integration, value assessment, barriers, and success strategies.
• Responses were analyzed to identify common themes and approaches to pharmacy integration.

Main Results:

• Health systems employ diverse strategies for systemwide pharmacy service integration.
• A dedicated system-level pharmacy leader with enterprise-wide reporting enhances integration effectiveness.
• Integration of pharmacy services did not typically reduce pharmacy full-time equivalents.

Conclusions:

• Significant opportunities exist to create value through pharmacy enterprises, focusing on formulary/clinical standardization, supply chain, EHR integration, and specialty/retail pharmacy.
• Effective leadership, entrepreneurialism, and value demonstration position pharmacy leaders for positive outcomes.
• Optimized pharmacy enterprises benefit patients, payers, and the overall health system.