Comprehensive pharmaceutical services in the surgical suite and recovery room

The operation of a pharmacy satellite located within the operating suite of a large university hospital is described. The satellite provides comprehensive services 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the staff of the operating room (OR), recovery room, and anesthesia department. Kits of anesthetic agents and other drugs used by the anesthetist and surgeon are prepared for each surgical procedure. The pharmacy staff also prepares i.v. admixtures, cardioplegic solutions, and specialized preparations as needed for surgery and provides drugs and i.v. admixture services to the recovery room for postoperative patients. Controlled substances are signed out to the anesthetist as needed in the particular kits and are issued as single doses upon request to the recovery room. All pharmacy charges to patients in the OR are done directly from the pharmacy satellite using a computer charging system. The decentralized pharmacy satellite has substantially reduced drug loss and waste, improved drug delivery to patients, increased revenue for the institution, reduced drug inventory, improved controlled-drug distribution and accountability, improved clinical services, and eased the nursing workload by reassigning drug-related responsibilities to the pharmacy department. The OR pharmacy satellite is a viable cost-effective operation.