Hospital pharmacy financial management: challenges of the 1980s

This paper concludes a series on financial management of hospital pharmacies. A decade of expansion of health-care services is ending. Changes in health care are predicted by examining changes that followed deregulation of the banking industry. Pharmacists' need for training in financial management is reiterated, and the need for computerized financial reports is emphasized. Pharmacy departments should prepare for constant changes in reimbursement methods and fluctuations in workload that require flexible staffing. Marketing of pharmaceutical services and increases in productivity will be necessary. Health-care cost reductions can be achieved using the available technology, although hospital closure, restructuring, and staff reductions may occur. Pharmacist-managers need financial skills to remain competitive.