ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To describe the impact of an inpatient clinical oncology pharmacy technician program. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to observe outcomes in patients discharged from the hematology/oncology or bone marrow transplant (BMT) units at Indiana University Health in the year before (April 1, 2016-March 31, 2017) compared with the year after (April 1, 2018-March 31, 2019) the implementation of expanded technician services. The technician performed admission medication histories and ensured access to discharge medications. RESULTS: There were 1,169 and 1,112 encounters included in the pre- and post-technician cohorts. The median age was lower (54 v 61 years; P < .001), and there was a higher percentage of male patients (62% v 52.3%; P < .001) in the pre- compared with post-technician cohort. There were a higher percentage of oncology (36.4% v 31%; P = .007) and no difference in hematology (37.4% v 40.2%; P = .17) nor BMT encounters (26.3% v 28.8%; P = .18) in the pre- compared with post-technician cohort. The discharge prescription capture rate increased (42.7% v 78.5%; P < .001) from the pre- to post-technician cohort, resulting in a 34.2% increase ($314,639.46 in US dollars [USD]-$422,129.20 USD) in retail pharmacy revenue. More admission medication histories were completed by pharmacy staff (64.4% v 91.9%; P < .001), and there was an increase in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems-derived patient satisfaction results for both hematology/oncology (79% v 88%; P < .001) and BMT units (77% v 84%; P = .02) in the pre- compared with post-technician cohort. There was no difference in rates of unplanned readmissions (16.4% v 18.2%; P = .69) in the pre- compared with post-technician cohort. CONCLUSION: The overall capture rate of discharge prescriptions, revenue for the retail pharmacy, and patient satisfaction scores significantly increased after the implementation of expanded, inpatient clinical pharmacy technician services.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The degree of compliance with antibiogram guidance among University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) hospitals was analyzed. METHODS: The UHC Pharmacy Council Pharmacy Practice Advancement Committee conducted a survey to evaluate hospital policies regarding the generation, reporting, and utilization of antibiograms among UHC hospitals. The survey was distributed via a UHC online survey tool to pharmacy directors at 237 UHC hospitals. Responses were collected from April 13 to May 14, 2010. RESULTS: Of the 237 hospitals to which surveys were sent, 49 hospitals (21%) from 28 states submitted survey responses. Forty-eight hospitals reported that they routinely generated antibiograms, and 36 reported that they adopted all or most of the standards recommended by the 2009 guidelines on antibiograms published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The compliance rates to the four key CLSI recommendations were as follows: 98% reported data at least annually, 89% eliminated duplicate isolates, 83% did not include surveillance isolates, and 64% required at least 30 isolates for each reported species. Thirty-eight hospitals had an antimicrobial stewardship program; 35 of them formally reviewed antibiograms and 19 implemented new programs based on the antibiogram data. In 16 hospitals, formulary changes were made as a consequence of antibiogram results. In 30 hospitals, pharmacists had significant involvement in compiling, reviewing, and reporting antibiograms. CONCLUSION: Among respondents from 47 UHC hospitals, the compliance rates to four key CLSI recommendations for antibiograms ranged from 64% to 98%. Respondents from 30 hospitals reported significant involvement of pharmacists in compiling, reviewing, and reporting antibiograms.
