Justification and operation of a critical-care satellite pharmacy

Development and implementation of a pharmacy satellite for critical-care areas in a 700-bed community hospital are described. Before the satellite, central-pharmacy personnel filled 70% of critical-care orders; the remainder of medications were floor stock. Large-volume admixtures were prepared by nurses on the critical-care units. In planning for a satellite pharmacy, turn-around time and lost drug charges were studied. Workload and staffing projections and potential expenses and revenues associated with the proposed satellite were presented to the hospital administration. The satellite was approved and serves 82 beds including the critical-care areas. It is open 16.5 hours/day and provides all i.v. admixtures. Drug distribution is computerized, and pharmacists participate on the CPR team and on physician rounds. Data collected four months after the satellite opened showed shorter turnaround time, decreased floor stock inventory, fewer lost charges, and additional revenue from preparation of i.v. admixtures. Ten months after the satellite was opened, a unit dose system was implemented. Through implementation of the satellite, shorter turnaround time for medication orders and i.v. admixtures, improved drug control, and greater control over billing were achieved.