Clinical pharmacy services in Florida hospitals—1984

Abstract

To ascertain the progress made in the implementation of clinical services in Florida hospitals, a survey conducted in 1977 was readministered in 1984. Questionnaires were sent to the directors of pharmaceutical services of all 256 Florida hospitals. Nine questions on clinical services were identical to the 1977 survey and two additional questions were included on nutritional support services and pharmacokinetic dosing consultations. The directors were also asked if they had conducted studies to document the cost-effectiveness of their clinical pharmacy services. Questionnaires were returned by 75% of the directors. As in the 1977 survey, approximately half of the hospitals had less than 200 beds. Slightly more than 82% of the hospitals had total unit dose systems and about 7% had partial systems, which was considerably higher than the 58% with either total or partial systems found in the 1977 survey. Services such as patient monitoring, inservice education, and drug-use review were being offered substantially more than in 1977. Conducting patient medication histories, attending rounds with physicians, and providing discharge consultations were the least-performed clinical services. The reasons given for not implementing these services were similar in both surveys. However, while the lack of adequately trained pharmacists was frequently cited in 1977, very few respondents cited it as an obstacle in 1984. Several respondents indicated that they had documented cost savings attributable to their clinical pharmacy services. Clinical pharmacy programs are continuing to grow in Florida hospitals; however, pharmacy administrators appear to be having some of the same problems implementing these services as they did previously.