Hospital expansion of ambulatory-care services: implications for pharmacy

Implications for hospital and community pharmacists of the hospital industry's increased involvement in ambulatory care are discussed. There will certainly be competition between hospital and community pharmacists for the right to provide pharmaceutical services to ambulatory patients. Various developments are encouraging hospitals to expand their ambulatory services, and these will increase the competition and add urgency to minimizing confrontation between the two groups. The need for a forum within pharmacy to discuss difficult issues such as this is emphasized.