Impact of clinical pharmacy services on prescribing on a cardiothoracic/vascular surgical unit

A multi-faceted approach was used to study the impact of clinical pharmacy services on the cost of drug therapy on a cardiothoracic and vascular surgical service. Physician and nursing attitudes about the usefulness and likely effect of clinical pharmacist recommendations were also assessed. A cross-sectional design with a temporal factor was used to study physician prescribing of all pharmacologic classes, and particularly of antibiotics. Measurements were taken for nine months before the institution of clinical pharmacy services, 12 months during a clinical pharmacy service period, and for six months after the cessation of the services. A trend toward reduction in drug costs per patient day was observed on both services. This was observed for all pharmacologic classes, and when antibiotics were analyzed alone. The difference was significant when antibiotics were specifically analyzed on the vascular surgical service. The pharmacist's log and a survey of physicians' and nurses' attitudes toward clinical pharmacy services supported the above results.