Survey of pharmacy strategic planning and execution in US health systems

Results of a survey on the state of enterprise-wide pharmacy strategic planning and execution in US health systems are presented.

An online survey instrument was developed based on guidance by an expert advisory committee. The survey covered 5 domains: (1) current state of strategic planning, (2) plan-development process, (3) stakeholder engagement, (4) plan dissemination, and (5) demographics.

Of the 1,092 health-system pharmacy practice leaders surveyed, 225 (21%) responded. Among the respondents, 187 (83%) had a current enterprise-wide pharmacy strategic plan (EWPSP) or were slated to develop one in the next 12 months. The 165 respondents actively engaged with an EWPSP responded to questions about their process. Most EWPSPs covered a timeframe of 3 to 5 years and were revisited at least annually. The strategic plans of more than two-thirds of respondents included (1) goals; (2) actions to achieve each goal; (3) mission, vision, and values of the pharmacy enterprise; and (4) the accountable person or team for each goal. Most respondents agreed strongly that their plan helped showcase pharmacy initiatives to external stakeholders and facilitated networking across the pharmacy enterprise. Respondents indicated it would be helpful to have additional resources to identify emerging trends, measure plan performance, and align plans with service line priorities. Based on the survey results and their own experience, the authors offer advice on ways to enhance the effectiveness of enterprise-wide pharmacy strategic planning.

EWPSPs in US health systems are developed and executed using a variety of resources and methods and are aligned with the overall goals of their organizations. Survey respondents indicated that their strategic plans help (1) expand existing services or develop new services and (2) gain support from internal and external stakeholders.