| Description |
This document outlines a request by the Department of Pharmacy Services to establish a professional position - that of a Clinical Coordinator. The report begins by describing the development of pharmacy practice at University Hospital. Traditional ward stock and prescription dispensing gave way to unit dose drug distribution and centralized intravenous admixture preparation. Later, pharmacist and support personnel were decentralized to more efficiently provide services to patients and other staff of the hospital. With decentralization, pharmacists became more involved in providing non-distributive or clinical services to patients, nurses, and physicians relating to patients, nurses, and physicians relating to patient medication usage and needs. These services are beneficial in that quality of patient care is improved, the teaching environment of the hospital is enhanced, and cost savings from decreased use of inappropriate or higher cost drugs may be realized. Because of personnel limitations these clinical pharmacy services now are not provided consistently to all patients. The clinical services now provided could be expanded to result in further benefits to patients and staff. Consistency of services, implementation of new services and assuring the necessary pharmacy staff development will require the full-time commitment of a dedicated specialist. The position of Clinical Coordinator will meet this need. A qualified coordinator will be able to maintain a clinical practice, plan and implement new programs, provide training and development programs for staff pharmacists, and assure consistency of clinical pharmacy services. The cost for this position will be approximately $45,000 per year including a 28% allowance for benefits. For the 1985-86 fiscal year the cost is projected at $32,000 based on eight months of salary and benefits, and a budget for advertising and recruiting. The potential cost savings resulting from comprehensive clinical services have been document in the pharmacy literature. These cost savings result from specific pharmacy activities including consistent interactions with physicians regarding drug usages, restricting antibiotic over-usage, pharmacokinetic consultations, and pharmacist-controlled treatment programs. Nonquantifiable benefits include increased quality of patient care, an improved teaching environment, improved utilization of professional. |
