Implementing comprehensive pharmaceutical services at an academic tertiary care hospital

The implementation and impact of comprehensive pharmaceutical services at a hospital are described. Before 1992, pharmaceutical services at Detroit Receiving Hospital and University Health Center were comparable to those of many departments serving similar academic tertiary care institutions. A major conflict with the principles of pharmaceutical care existed in that specific tasks were assigned to pharmacists, so that up to four pharmacists may have been involved in one patients drug therapy while other patients were ignored. Several steps were taken to solve this problem, The department's mission and vision statements were modified to embrace pharmaceutical care. The support of administration and department leaders was secured, pharmacist evaluations were adjusted to make pharmaceutical care skills baseline competencies, and staffing was reconfigured. A voluntary pharmaceutical care committee was formed to transform pharmaceutical services at the hospital. It was decided that all staff pharmacists would provide clinical and distributive services on a rotating basis. The drug distribution system was altered to free more pharmacist time for patient care, and two technician positions were added. The clinical program was made more patient focused. The program was implemented in a stepwise manner beginning in September 1992. Computerized systems for tracking workload and documenting clinical interventions and drug cost savings were established, Later changes included making pharmacists responsible for all patients on a medical service rather than for specific problems in a particular location and changing scheduling to enhance the continuity of care. The number of clinical interventions by pharmacists increased from 3,563 in 1993 to 15,476 (projected) in 1995, and drug cost savings and avoidance increased from $239,248 in 1992 to $562,402 (projected) in 1995. Major change was necessary to implement comprehensive pharmaceutical services at an academic tertiary care hospital.