ASHP NATIONAL SURVEY OF PHARMACY PRACTICE IN ACUTE-CARE SETTINGS - 1996

The results of the 1996 ASHP national survey of pharmaceutical service s in nonfederal community hospitals are presented and compared with th e findings of the 1994 ASHP survey. A questionnaire was mailed to phar macy directors at hospitals randomly sampled from those registered by the American Hospital Association. A total of 713 usable surveys were returned, for a net response rate of 37.1%. Inpatient pharmaceutical s ervices were provided an average of 17.4 hours per weekday and ambulat ory care pharmaceutical services 13.3 hours per weekday. Pharmacy dire ctors were more likely to have duties beyond the department than in 19 94 (24% versus 12%). The percentage reporting a patient-focused-care m odel increased from 18% in 1994 to 33% in 1996. The percentage reporti ng some automation of drug distribution increased from 55% in 1994 to 65% in 1996. Provision of ambulatory care pharmaceutical services was indicated by 63% of respondents, and 35% indicated providing home infu sion services. Compared with 1994, pharmacy departments provided more clinical services to inpatients. The most commonly offered clinical ph armacy services for inpatients were drug-food interaction screening, d rug-use evaluations, adverse-drug-reaction programs, and medication er ror management programs. The percentage providing pharmaceutical care to some extent increased from 44% to 60%. The percentage reporting tha t pharmacists had the authority to initiate or modify medication order s increased from 35% to 56%. A well-controlled formulary system was in place at 60% of hospitals, while 39% reported restrictions on prescri bing. Nearly three fourths of respondents reported a therapeutic inter change policy. Mean inventory cost per patient day was $4.67, a decrea se from $5.62 in 1994. About 68% of inpatient pharmacy expenditures we nt for drugs and fluids, 27% for staff, and 5% for other noncapital ex penditures. The 1996 ASHP survey revealed continued growth in various activities related to patient care, such as implementation of patient- focused care, enhanced clinical services, and therapy management progr ams. Although the provision of pharmaceutical care increased, ample ro om for growth remains.