Pharmacy Department management and organization.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Hospital Pharmacy Management
• Infectious Disease Preparedness

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid hospital service transformations, including increased bed capacity and alternative care sites.
• Spain experienced a high COVID-19 case count, highlighting the strain on healthcare systems.
• The need for future pandemic preparedness in hospital pharmacy operations is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe organizational changes within the Hospital Pharmacy Department at Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To outline strategies for reorganizing hospital pharmacy departments for safe and effective medication use during health crises.
• To share lessons learned regarding humanization, patient care, and professional well-being in a pandemic context.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of integral hospital task groups (e.g., COVID-crisis, protocolization, research).
• Adaptation of internal departmental organization, including management, leadership, and communication plans.
• Reorganization of processes and focus on staff management and well-being.

Main Results:

• The hospital pharmacy faced challenges including increased resource demand, evolving therapeutic protocols, and staff strain.
• New organizational structures and task groups were created to manage pandemic-related demands.
• Strategies focused on safe medication management, efficient processes, and human-centered care.

Conclusions:

• Hospital pharmacies require robust organizational strategies to effectively manage pandemics and ensure medication safety.
• Adaptability in management, communication, and processes is key for hospital pharmacy resilience.
• Prioritizing people—patients and professionals—is fundamental to humanized healthcare during crises.