Assessment of clinical service contracts between hospital pharmacies and colleges of pharmacy.

The purpose of this study is to assess the advantages and disadvantages of various annual financial clinical contract options between the Atlanta metropolitan area hospital and the Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy (Atlanta, GA). Forty-five surveys with 17 statements in a Likert scale format were mailed to all directors, clinical staff of each hospital (adjunct faculty), and full-time clinical faculty to validate the perceived advantages and disadvantages of financial contracts between their hospital and the School of Pharmacy. The survey questionnaire was returned by 84% of the participants. Survey results indicate that the School of Pharmacy and area hospital pharmacies appear to have benefited from this marriage of common interests in clinical program development with 79% agreeing that the overall benefits of the educational affiliation and contract out-weighed the disadvantages.