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Hospital pharmacy purchases and inventories
American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
|May 1, 1979
Summary
Hospital pharmacies in 1978 held large inventories, especially smaller facilities. Inventory turnover was suboptimal in smaller hospitals, with significant regional variations in purchasing and inventory levels.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Administration
- Health Services Research
- Hospital Management
Background:
- Understanding pharmaceutical purchasing and inventory management is crucial for hospital cost-efficiency.
- Previous data on national pharmacy practices, particularly inventory levels and purchasing patterns, were limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report findings on hospital pharmacy purchases and inventories from a 1978 national survey.
- To analyze inventory size, turnover rates, and purchasing patterns in U.S. short-term hospitals.
Main Methods:
- A national mail survey was conducted in 1978 targeting U.S. short-term hospitals employing pharmacists.
- A random sample of 815 hospitals was selected from 5,200 eligible institutions.
- Data on inventory, purchasing, and hospital characteristics were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Smaller hospitals exhibited disproportionately large inventories.
- Inventory turnover rates increased with hospital size but were suboptimal in small and medium-sized facilities.
- The Pacific region showed significantly higher inventory and purchasing per bed compared to other regions.
Conclusions:
- Hospital size significantly impacts inventory levels and turnover efficiency.
- Regional disparities in pharmaceutical purchasing and inventory management exist.
- Estimated total 1979 pharmaceutical purchases for U.S. short-term hospitals ranged from $2.2 to $2.8 billion.