Paula Newman1, Sammu Dhaliwall2, Olena Polyakova3, Kevin McDonald1. 1. , BScPhm, ACPR, is with Northwest Telepharmacy Solutions, Deep River, Ontario. 2. , PharmD, ACPR, is with Northwest Telepharmacy Solutions, Deep River, Ontario. 3. , MD, PhD, is with Northwest Telepharmacy Solutions, Deep River, Ontario.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists' Hospital Pharmacy in Canada Report presents data from pharmacy departments that service hospitals with at least 50 acute care beds. This report provides valuable data on pharmacy distribution, clinical, and management services in relation to hospital size, type, and geographic region. Pharmacy and hospital leadership use these extensive data in identifying baseline, benchmarking current, and planning enhanced pharmacy services. However, for most of Canada's small hospitals, such data remain unknown, and leadership remains uninformed. OBJECTIVE: To gather and analyze data about current pharmacy distribution, clinical, and management services in hospitals with fewer than 50 acute care beds receiving third-party remote pharmacy (telepharmacy) services. METHODS: In April 2019, pharmacy administrators of hospitals in Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan that had fewer than 50 acute care beds and were using third-party telepharmacy services were invited to complete a comprehensive survey addressing concepts similar to those in the Hospital Pharmacy in Canada Survey. The following data on clinical pharmacy practice were collected: models of care, assignments to patient care programs, pharmacists' activities, performance indicators, and professional evaluation. The description of pharmacy distribution services comprised type of system, technology, location, hours of operation, method of medication order entry and verification, and medication administration records. Details on facilities' parenteral admixture infrastructure, policy for and provision of sterile compounding, and pharmacy department human resources, including composition and staffing ratios, were also collected. RESULTS: Of the 27 hospitals in Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan that were invited to participate, 24 (89%) completed the survey. The median facility size was 19 acute care beds. CONCLUSIONS: Previously unavailable in Canada, these quantitative data from small hospitals supported by telepharmacy services provide facts about pharmacy distribution, clinical, and management services to inform hospital and pharmacy leaders. Creation of a survey unique to small hospitals, whether or not they use telepharmacy services, could provide a valuable resource to assist in the benchmarking, planning, and enhancement of pharmacy services in remote and rural communities. 2021 Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. All content in the Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy is copyrighted by the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacy. In submitting their manuscripts, the authors transfer, assign, and otherwise convey all copyright ownership to CSHP.
BACKGROUND: The Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists' Hospital Pharmacy in Canada Report presents data from pharmacy departments that service hospitals with at least 50 acute care beds. This report provides valuable data on pharmacy distribution, clinical, and management services in relation to hospital size, type, and geographic region. Pharmacy and hospital leadership use these extensive data in identifying baseline, benchmarking current, and planning enhanced pharmacy services. However, for most of Canada's small hospitals, such data remain unknown, and leadership remains uninformed. OBJECTIVE: To gather and analyze data about current pharmacy distribution, clinical, and management services in hospitals with fewer than 50 acute care beds receiving third-party remote pharmacy (telepharmacy) services. METHODS: In April 2019, pharmacy administrators of hospitals in Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan that had fewer than 50 acute care beds and were using third-party telepharmacy services were invited to complete a comprehensive survey addressing concepts similar to those in the Hospital Pharmacy in Canada Survey. The following data on clinical pharmacy practice were collected: models of care, assignments to patient care programs, pharmacists' activities, performance indicators, and professional evaluation. The description of pharmacy distribution services comprised type of system, technology, location, hours of operation, method of medication order entry and verification, and medication administration records. Details on facilities' parenteral admixture infrastructure, policy for and provision of sterile compounding, and pharmacy department human resources, including composition and staffing ratios, were also collected. RESULTS: Of the 27 hospitals in Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan that were invited to participate, 24 (89%) completed the survey. The median facility size was 19 acute care beds. CONCLUSIONS: Previously unavailable in Canada, these quantitative data from small hospitals supported by telepharmacy services provide facts about pharmacy distribution, clinical, and management services to inform hospital and pharmacy leaders. Creation of a survey unique to small hospitals, whether or not they use telepharmacy services, could provide a valuable resource to assist in the benchmarking, planning, and enhancement of pharmacy services in remote and rural communities. 2021 Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. All content in the Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy is copyrighted by the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacy. In submitting their manuscripts, the authors transfer, assign, and otherwise convey all copyright ownership to CSHP.
Entities:
Keywords:
pharmacy practice; remote; rural; small hospital; survey; telepharmacy