Effects of pharmacist participation in intensive care units on clinical and economic outcomes of critically ill patients with thromboembolic or infarction-related events.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of clinical pharmacist participation in the care of critically ill Medicare patients with thromboembolic or infarction-related events (TIE) on clinical and economic outcomes. METHODS: In this retrospective database review (September 1, 2004-August 31, 2005), patient data were retrieved from the 2004 Expanded Modified Medicare Provider Analysis and Review database. Outcomes data evaluated included mortality rates, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, total Medicare charges, drug and laboratory charges, and rates of bleeding complications. In addition, outcomes related to the bleeding complications (transfusions, mortality rate) were assessed. Patient outcomes in ICUs with clinical pharmacy services were compared with patient outcomes in ICUs without these services. Clinical pharmacy services were defined as direct patient care services provided by a pharmacist specifically devoted to the ICU; other services such as order processing or drug distribution were not part of these services. A description of ICU pharmacy services was obtained from a 2004 national survey. RESULTS: We identified 141,079 patients with TIE, of whom 7987 also had bleeding complications. In hospitals with ICU clinical pharmacy services, mortality rates in patients with TIE only and TIE with bleeding complications were higher by 37% (odds ratio [OR] 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36-1.46) and 31% (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.13-1.61), respectively, than in ICUs with clinical pharmacy services. Lengths of ICU stay were longer by 14.8% (mean +/- SD 7.28 +/- 8.17 vs 6.34 +/- 7.80 days, p<0.0001) and 15.8% (12.4 +/- 13.28 vs 10.71 +/- 9.53 days, p=0.008), respectively. The lack of clinical pharmacist participation in a patient's care was associated with extra Medicare charges of $215,397,354 (p<0.001) and $63,175,725 (p<0.0001) and extra drug charges of $26,363,674 (p<0.0001) and $2,610,750 (p<0.001) for TIE only and TIE with bleeding complications, respectively. Without clinical pharmacy services, bleeding complications increased by 49% (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.46-1.60), resulting in 39% more patients requiring transfusions (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.28-1.69); these patients also received more blood products (mean +/- SD 6.8 +/- 10.4 vs 3.1 +/- 2.6 units/patient, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: Involving clinical pharmacists in the direct care of intensive care patients with TIE was associated with reduced mortality, improved clinical and charge outcomes, and fewer bleeding complications. Hospitals should promote direct involvement of pharmacists in the care of patients in the ICU.

Clinical and economic outcomes of involving pharmacists in the direct care of critically ill patients with infections.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the absence or presence of clinical pharmacists in intensive care units (ICUs) results in differences in mortality rates, length of ICU stay, and ICU charges for Medicare patients with nosocomial-acquired infections, community-acquired infections, and sepsis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: The type and level of pharmacy services provided to ICUs were obtained from a 2004 national survey. Clinical pharmacy services were defined as having at least a partial pharmacist full-time equivalent specifically devoted to the ICU for the purpose of direct involvement in patient care. Infections were defined using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. ICU outcome data were drawn from the 2004 modified Medicare provider analysis and review. Depending on the infection studied, the involvement of clinical pharmacists was evaluated in 8,927-54,042 patients from 265 to 276 hospitals. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN OUTCOMES: Mortality rates, length of ICU stay, Medicare charges, drug charges, and laboratory charges for each of the infections categorized according to the absence or presence of clinical pharmacists. Compared to ICUs with clinical pharmacists, mortality rates in ICUs that did not have clinical pharmacists were higher by 23.6% (p < 0.001, 386 extra deaths), 16.2% (p = 0.008, 74 extra deaths), and 4.8% (p = 0.008, 211 extra deaths) for nosocomial-acquired infections, community-acquired infections, and sepsis, respectively. Similarly, ICU length of stay was longer by 7.9% (p < 0.001, 14,248 extra days), 5.9% (p = 0.03, 2855 extra days), and 8.1% (p < 0.001, 19,215 extra days) for nosocomial-acquired infections, community-acquired infections, and sepsis, respectively. ICUs that did not have clinical pharmacists had greater total Medicare billings of 12% (p < 0.001, $132,978,807 extra billing charges), 11.9% (p < 0.001, $32,240,378 extra billing charges), and 12.9% (p < 0.001, $224,694,784 extra billing charges) for nosocomial-acquired infections, community-acquired infections, and sepsis, respectively. Similar findings were observed for Medicare drug charges and laboratory charges. CONCLUSION: The involvement of clinical pharmacists in the care of critically ill Medicare patients with infections is associated with improved clinical and economic outcomes. Hospitals should consider employing clinical ICU pharmacists.

2006 national clinical pharmacy services survey: clinical pharmacy services, collaborative drug management, medication errors, and pharmacy technology.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of 15 hospital-based clinical pharmacy services, 51 different drugs managed under protocol by pharmacists, medication errors, and pharmacy technology in United States hospitals. DESIGN: A survey was mailed, as well as sent electronically, to pharmacists in 2893 hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 1125 surveys were returned (38.9% response rate). The 1125 hospitals had 14,315,506 patients admitted, which represented 45.7% of the 31,324,496 admissions to all U.S. hospitals in 2006. The proportion of clinical pharmacy services provided by Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals was higher compared with non-VA hospitals. In all hospitals, the clinical pharmacy services with the greatest growth from 1989-2006 were pharmacist-provided admission drug histories (300% increase), pharmacist participation on medical rounds (292.3% increase), drug protocol management (208% increase), pharmacist-conducted clinical research (166.7% increase), pharmacist-provided drug information (150% increase), and pharmacist-provided pharmacokinetic consultation (117.5% increase). A total of 864 hospitals (76.8%) had pharmacists providing drug protocol management (collaborative drug management). Pharmacists managed a mean +/- SD of 9.18 +/- 10.23 different drugs/hospital (7932 protocols). Drugs commonly managed included aminoglycosides (64.4% of hospitals), vancomycin (63.8%), warfarin (37.8%), low-molecular-weight heparins (32.7%), unfractionated heparin (30.0%), fluoroquinolones (30.0%), antiparkinsonian drugs (22.8%), proton pump inhibitors (22.7%), human immunodeficiency virus drugs (21.9%), and cephalosporins (19.7%). The mean number of medication errors reported/hospital increased by 151.4% between 1995 and 2006. The percentage of patients who experienced a medication error increased from 4.7% to 6.5% between 1995 and 2006 (a 38.3% increase). A total of 220 hospitals (19.6%) had computerized prescriber order entry systems, 263 (23.4%) had bar coding for drug administration, and 439 (39.0%) used robotics for dispensing. CONCLUSION: This study provides continuing evidence of the growth and value of clinical pharmacy services and clinical pharmacists in our nation's hospitals. These data will guide hospital pharmacy directors and clinical coordinators in allocating resources to optimally meet their patients' needs.

Clinical and economic outcomes of pharmacist-managed antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgical patients.

PURPOSE: The associations between pharmacist-managed antimicrobial prophylaxis in Medicare patients who had surgical codes indicative of the need for antimicrobial prophylaxis and the major health care outcomes of death rate, length of stay, Medicare charges, drug charges, laboratory charges, and complications were explored. METHODS: Pharmacist management of antimicrobial prophylaxis was evaluated in 242,704 Medicare patients from 860 [corrected] hospitals. RESULTS: Patients who developed a surgical-site infection (SSI) had a 331.58% increased risk of death compared with patients who did not develop an SSI (chi2 = 743.471; df = 1; p < 0.0001; odds ratio [OR], 3.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.28-3.99). Patients who developed an SSI also had a 167.16% increase in length of stay, 136.49% increase in total Medicare charges, 245.96% increase in drug charges, and 187.14% increase in laboratory charges. In hospitals without pharmacist-managed antimicrobial prophylaxis, death rates were 52.06% higher (105 excess deaths; p < 0.0001; OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.46-1.63), length of stay was 10.21% higher (167,941 excess patient days, p < 0.0001), mean +/- S.D. total Medicare charges were 3.10% higher ($980 +/- $1,109 more per patient) ($182,113,400 excess total Medicare charges, p < 0.0001), mean +/- S.D. drug charges were 7.24% higher ($292 +/- $492 more per patient) ($54,262,360 excess drug charges, p = 0.005), mean +/- S.D. laboratory charges were 2.72% higher ($74 +/- $151 more per patient) ($13,751,420 excess laboratory charges, p = 0.0056), and SSIs were 34.30% higher (chi2 = 95.48; df = 1; p < 0.0001; OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.40-1.66). CONCLUSION: The provision of pharmacist-managed antimicrobial prophylaxis was associated with significant improvement in clinical and economic outcomes for Medicare patients with a surgical code indicative of the need for antimicrobial prophylaxis.

Clinical pharmacy services, pharmacy staffing, and hospital mortality rates.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if hospital-based clinical pharmacy services and pharmacy staffing continue to be associated with mortality rates. METHODS: A database was constructed from 1998 MedPAR, American Hospital Association's Annual Survey of Hospitals, and National Clinical Pharmacy Services databases, consisting of data from 2,836,991 patients in 885 hospitals. Data from hospitals that had 14 clinical pharmacy services were compared with data from hospitals that did not have these services; levels of hospital pharmacist staffing were also compared. A multiple regression analysis, controlling for severity of illness, was used. RESULTS: Seven clinical pharmacy services were associated with reduced mortality rates: pharmacist-provided drug use evaluation (4491 reduced deaths, p=0.016), pharmacist-provided in-service education (10,660 reduced deaths, p=0.037), pharmacist-provided adverse drug reaction management (14,518 reduced deaths, p=0.012), pharmacist-provided drug protocol management (18,401 reduced deaths, p=0.017), pharmacist participation on the cardiopulmonary resuscitation team (12,880 reduced deaths, p=0.009), pharmacist participation on medical rounds (11,093 reduced deaths, p=0.021), and pharmacist-provided admission drug histories (3988 reduced deaths, p=0.001). Two staffing variables, number of pharmacy administrators/100 occupied beds (p=0.037) and number of clinical pharmacists/100 occupied beds (p=0.023), were also associated with reduced mortality rates. CONCLUSION: The number of clinical pharmacy services and staffing variables associated with reduced mortality rates increased from two in 1989 to nine in 1998. The impact of clinical pharmacy on mortality rates mandates consideration of a core set of clinical pharmacy services to be offered in United States hospitals. These results have important implications for health care in general, as well as for our profession and discipline.

Early implementation of medicare part D in urban and rural nursing facilities.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if differences occurred in the early implementation of Medicare Part D (prescription drug program) between urban and rural nursing facilities. DESIGN: Nursing facility demographic data, obtained from the Nursing Facility Compare Medicare Web site, were used to create matched pairs of rural and urban facilities. On-site interviews were conducted in June and July 2006 with one designated representative from each nursing facility. Details for each prescription drug plan (PDP), identified by the facility representatives, were obtained from the PDP's Web site. SETTING: A prospective pilot field study of rural and urban nursing facilities was created from among 40 facilities in the 26-county Texas Panhandle. Five rural/urban nursing facilities of identical ownership and of similar perceived quality (number of cited deficiencies) and staffing (total nursing staff time per resident) were used for the pilot study. PARTICIPANTS: Nursing facility employees charged with overseeing Part D implementation and trained interviewers. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of PDPs per nursing facility and distribution of persons providing enrollment decision support. RESULTS: Rural facilities used more PDPs (7.4 +/- 3.9) than did urban facilities (4.6 +/- 3.8, NSS). Independent samples Student's t-test determined that there was a significant difference in the average number of drugs per resident. Rural residents received fewer medications (8.2 +/- 1.9) than urban residents (11.2 +/- 2.2; P = 0.049, t = 2.32). CONCLUSIONS: These early findings suggest that rural nursing facilities interact with more PDPs than urban facilities and that Medicare Part D enrollment decisions are more likely to be aided by family members in rural facilities than in urban nursing facilities.

Clinical and economic outcomes of pharmacist-managed antiepileptic drug therapy.

This study explores the associations between pharmacist-managed antiepileptic drug therapy in hospitalized Medicare patients and diagnoses indicating the need for these drugs. It also explores the following major heath care outcomes: death rate, hospital length of stay (LOS), Medicare charges, drug charges, laboratory charges, complications, and adverse drug reactions. Data were drawn from the 1998 MedPAR and 1998 National Clinical Pharmacy Services databases. Pharmacist-managed antiepileptic drug therapy was evaluated in a study population of 9380 Medicare patients with diagnosed epilepsy or seizure disorders treated in 794 United States hospitals. This population was derived from the 38,311 hospitalized Medicare patients with epilepsy or seizure disorders (MedPAR). In hospitals without pharmacist-managed antiepileptic drug therapy, death rates were 120.61% higher, with 374 excess deaths (chi(2)=5.983, df=1, p=0.014, odds ratio [OR]=1.553, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.102-2.189). Hospital LOS was 14.68% higher, with 8069 patient-days (Mann-Whitney U test [U]=3833132, p=0.0009); total Medicare charges were 11.19% higher, with 14,372,550 dollars in excess total charges (U=3644199, p=0.0003); per-patient drug charges were $115 +/- $92 higher (p=NS); laboratory charges were 32.24% higher, with 5,664,970 dollars in excess charges; and aspiration pneumonia rate was 54.61% higher (chi(2)=5.848, df=1, p=0.015, OR=1.233, 95% CI 1.081-1.901). Although the frequencies of other complications and adverse effects were higher, these differences were not statistically significant compared with hospitals with pharmacist-managed antiepileptic drug therapy. Clinical and economic outcomes were improved among hospitalized Medicare patients whose antiepileptic drug therapy was managed by pharmacists.

Clinical pharmacy services, pharmacy staffing, and adverse drug reactions in United States hospitals.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were examined in 1,960,059 hospitalized Medicare patients in 584 United States hospitals in 1998. A database was constructed from the MedPAR database and the National Clinical Pharmacy Services survey. The 584 hospitals were selected because they provided specific information on 14 clinical pharmacy services and on pharmacy staffing; they also had functional ADR reporting systems. The study population consisted of 35,193 Medicare patients who experienced an ADR (rate of 1.8%). Of the 14 clinical pharmacy services, 12 were associated with reduced ADR rates. The most significant reductions occurred in hospitals offering pharmacist-provided admission drug histories (odds ratio [OR] 1.864, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.765-1.968), drug protocol management (OR 1.365, 95% CI 1.335-1.395), and ADR management (OR 1.360, 95% CI 1.328-1.392). Multivariate analysis, performed to further evaluate these findings, showed that nine variables were associated with ADR rate: pharmacist-provided in-service education (slope -0.469, p=0.018), drug information (slope -0.488, p=0.005), ADR management (slope -0.424, p=0.021), drug protocol management (slope -0.732, p=0.002), participation on the total parenteral nutrition team (slope 0.384, p=0.04), participation on the cardiopulmonary resuscitation team (slope -0.506, p=0.008), medical round participation (slope -0.422, p=0.037), admission drug histories (slope -0.712, p=0.008), and increased clinical pharmacist staffing (slope -4.345, p=0.009). As clinical pharmacist staffing increased from the 20th to the 100th percentile (from 0.93+/-0.77/100 to 5.16+/-4.11/100 occupied beds), ADRs decreased by 47.88%. In hospitals without pharmacist-provided ADR management, the following increases were noted: mean number of ADRs/100 admissions by 34.90% (OR 1.360, 95% CI 1.328-1.392), length of stay 13.64% (Mann-Whitney U test [U]=11047367, p=0.017), death rate 53.64% (OR 1.574, 95% CI 1.423-1.731), total Medicare charges 6.88% (U=111298871, p=0.018), and drug charges 8.16% (U=108979074, p<0.001). Patients in hospitals without pharmacist-provided ADR management had an excess of 4266 ADRs, 443 deaths, 85,554 patient-days, $11,745,342 in total Medicare charges, and $1,857,744 in drug charges. The implications of these findings are significant for our health care system, especially considering that the study population represented 15.55% of 12,261,737 Medicare patients and 5.71% of the 34,345,436 patients admitted to all U.S. hospitals.

Screening tests for intended medication adherence among the elderly.

BACKGROUND: Medication nonadherence is increasingly recognized as a cause of preventable adverse events, hospitalizations, and poor healthcare outcomes. While comprehensive medication adherence assessment for the elderly is likely to identify and prevent drug-related problems, it is time consuming for patient and healthcare providers alike. OBJECTIVE: To identify screening tools to predict elderly patients' intended medication adherence that are suitable for primary-care settings and community pharmacies. METHODS: This study evaluated 57 English-speaking persons aged 65 years and older who were from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Intended adherence was quantified, and the relationships to demographic, medical history, socioeconomic, and literacy variables were determined. RESULTS: In a multivariate analysis with the composite MedTake Test (a quantitative measure of each subject's intent to adhere to prescribed oral medications) as the dependent variable, independent predictors of intended adherence included: age, car ownership in the last 10 years, receipt of food assistance in the last 10 years, number of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, and REALM (Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine). The strongest predictor was the REALM word-recognition pronunciation test (beta = 0.666; R2 = 0.271; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We observed that the REALM word-recognition pronunciation test, along with age, number of OTC drugs, and 2 socioeconomic questions, predicted the intent of seniors to correctly take their own prescribed oral medications.

Adverse drug reactions in United States hospitals.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were examined in 8,208,960 hospitalized Medicare patients in 1998. A database was constructed from the 1998 MedPAR database. The study population was composed of 141,398 Medicare patients who experienced an ADR (rate of 1.73%). The most common drug classes associated with ADRs were cardiotonic glycosides, adrenal corticosteroids, antineoplastic agents, anticoagulants, and analgesics. The most common associated diagnoses were hypertension, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, volume depletion disorders, and atherosclerotic heart disease. In patients who experienced an ADR, death rates were 19.18% higher with 1971 excess deaths (odds ratio 1.208, 95% confidence interval 1.184-1.234), and length of hospital stay was 8.25% higher with 77,769 excess patient-days (Mann-Whitney U test [U]=200078720610, p<0.0001). Charges for patients with an ADR were increased as follows: total Medicare 19.86% (339,496,598 US dollars, U=200,089,611,739, p<0.0001), drugs 9.15% (24,744,650 US dollars, U=208,719,928,502, p<0.0001), and laboratory charges 2.82% (6,221,512 US dollars, U=195,143,498,450, p<0.0001). We developed a list of high-risk diagnoses and drug classes to help pharmacists target patients who are more likely to experience ADRs. This is the first study to evaluate the ADRs in a large population of hospitalized Medicare patients. These findings will enable pharmacists to develop better management programs for ADRs.

Critical care pharmacy services in United States hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Critical care pharmacy activities have been described as fundamental, desirable, and optimal, but actual services provided have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the type and level of pharmacy services provided to intensive care units (ICUs). METHODS: A 38 question survey was sent in 2 consecutive mailings to all US institutions (N = 3238) with an ICU. Questions were categorized according to clinical, educational, administrative, and scholarly activities, with levels of services stratified as fundamental, desirable, or optimal. RESULTS: Completed surveys were received from 382 (11.8%) institutions encompassing 1034 ICUs. Direct clinical pharmacy activities were provided at 62.2% of ICUs. The pharmacists in those programs attended rounds 4.4 +/- 1.5 days/wk, mean +/- SD, and had a workweek that consisted of patient care (43% of hours worked), drug distribution (26.2%), administration (12.6%), education (10.9%), and scholarly activities (7.3%). Fundamental clinical activities performed during at least 75% of patient ICU days were providing drug information, drug therapy evaluation, drug therapy intervention, and pharmacokinetic monitoring. Conducting in-services (92.8%), a fundamental service, was the only educational activity frequently provided. Most respondents were involved with at least one multidisciplinary committee, and 45.5% conducted scholarly activities. Desirable or optimal activities were not frequently provided across all service categories. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical pharmacists are directly involved as caregivers in nearly two-thirds of ICUs in the US. Although they provide a range of clinical and administrative services, involvement in educational and scholarly activities is variable. The level of services provided is consistent with the criteria deemed fundamental for improving patient care. Higher-order services are far less likely to be provided.

Methods for assessing drug-related anticholinergic activity.

The geriatric population is a large consumer of both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Positive outcomes from drugs depend on the delicate interplay between therapeutic and adverse effects. This relationship becomes tortuous with simultaneous administration of several drugs. Numerous concomitant drug therapies may be essential for providing quality patient care but may also increase the possibility of an adverse drug event. Increasing sensitivity to drug effects in the geriatric population also creates concern over adverse effects. Drugs that possess anticholinergic properties are especially worrisome, as these properties may manifest as hazardous physiologic and psychological adverse drug events. Consequently, clinicians strive to minimize total drug exposure to agents possessing anticholinergic properties in elderly patients. A review of the literature revealed four methods that might help clinicians systematically reduce or eliminate potentially offending anticholinergic drugs. Each of the four has merits and limitations, with no ideal evidence-based approach used. Three of the four methods described have research utility; however, only one of the methods is clinically useful.

Clinical and economic outcomes of pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside or vancomycin therapy.

PURPOSE: The associations between pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside or vancomycin therapy for hospitalized Medicare patients who had diagnoses indicating probable treatment with these antibiotics and the major health care outcomes of death rate, length of stay, Medicare charges, hearing loss, and renal impairment were explored. METHODS: Pharmacist management of drug therapy was evaluated in a study population composed of 199,082 Medicare patients treated in 961 hospitals. RESULTS: In hospitals that did not have pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside or vancomycin therapy, death rates were 6.71% higher (1,048 excess deaths [chi(2) (1) = 43.801, p < 0.0001]), length of stay was 12.28% higher (131,660 excess patient days [U = 4.701 x 10(9), p < 0.0001]), total Medicare charges were 6.30% higher (140,745,924 US dollars in excess total Medicare charges [U = 4.864 x 10(9), p < 0.0001]), drug charges were 8.15% higher (34,769,250 US dollars in excess drug charges [U = 4.785 x 10(9), p < 0.0001]), laboratory charges were 7.80% higher (22,530,474 US dollars in excess laboratory charges [U = 4.860 x 10(9), p < 0.0001]), hearing loss was 46.42% higher (134 more patients with hearing loss [chi(2) = 54.423, df = 1, p < 0.0001]), renal impairment was 33.95% higher (2,801 more patients with renal impairment [chi(2) = 118.13, df = 1, p < 0.0001]), and the death rate in patients who developed complications was 10.15% higher (231 excess deaths [chi(2) = 22.345, df = 1, p < 0.0001]) than in hospitals with pharmacists managing these drugs. CONCLUSION: The presence of pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside or vancomycin therapy was associated with significant improvement in health care and economic outcomes for Medicare patients who received these drugs.

Pharmacist-provided anticoagulation management in United States hospitals: death rates, length of stay, Medicare charges, bleeding complications, and transfusions.

We explored the associations between pharmacist-provided anticoagulation management in hospitalized Medicare patients and several major heath care outcomes: death rate, length of stay, Medicare charges, bleeding complications, and transfusions. Using the 1995 National Clinical Pharmacy Services database and the 1995 Medicare database for hospitals, data were retrieved for 717,396 Medicare patients treated in 955 hospitals for conditions requiring anticoagulant therapy. In hospitals without pharmacist-provided heparin management, death rates were 11.41% higher (chi2 (1) = 122.84, p<0.0001), length of stay was 10.05% higher (Mann-Whitney U test = 40039529342, p<0.0001), Medicare charges were 6.60% higher (U = 41004749266, p<0.0001), bleeding complications were 3.1% higher (chi2 (1) = 10.996, p=0.0009) and the transfusion rate for bleeding complications was 5.47% higher (chi2 (1) = 11.24, p=0.0008) than in hospitals with pharmacist-provided heparin management. In hospitals without pharmacist-provided warfarin management, death rates were 6.20% higher (chi2 (1) = 19.20, p<0.0001), length of stay was 5.86% higher (U = 25730993838, p<0.0001), Medicare charges were 2.16% higher (U = 259955112970, p<0.0001), bleeding complications were 8.09% higher (chi2 (1) = 49.259, p<0.0001), and the transfusion rate for bleeding complications was 22.49% higher (chi2 (1) = 78.68, p<0.0001). Study hospitals without pharmacist-provided heparin management had 4664 more deaths, 494,855 more patient-days, 145 more patients with bleeding complications, and $651,274,844 more in patient charges; 9784 more units of whole blood were used in patients requiring transfusions for bleeding complications. Hospitals without pharmacist-provided warfarin management had 2786 more deaths, 316,589 more patient-days, 429 more patients with bleeding complications, and $234,275,490 more in patient charges; 8991 more units of whole blood were used in patients requiring transfusions for bleeding complications. The implications of these findings are significant for the health care system, especially considering that the study population represents 28.25% of hospitalized Medicare patients who should receive anticoagulants, and that total Medicare admissions represent 35.02% of total admissions to United States hospitals.

Evidence-based core clinical pharmacy services in United States hospitals in 2020: services and staffing.

We developed a model for the provision of clinical pharmacy services in United States hospitals in 2020. Data were obtained from four National Clinical Pharmacy Services database surveys (1989, 1992, 1995, and 1998) and from the American Health-System Association's 2000 Abridged Guide to the Health Care Field. Staffing data from 1998 indicated that 45,734 pharmacist and 43,836 pharmacy technician full-time equivalent (FTE) staff were employed in U.S. hospitals; 17,325 pharmacist FTEs (38%) were devoted to providing clinical pharmacy services. To provide 14 specific clinical pharmacy services for 100% of U.S. inpatients in 2020, 37,814 new FTEs would be needed. For a more realistic manpower projection, using an evidence-based approach, a set of five core clinical pharmacy services were selected based on favorable associations with major health care outcomes (mortality rate, drug costs, total cost of care, length of hospital stay, and medication errors). The core set of services were drug information, adverse drug reaction management, drug protocol management, medical rounds, and admission drug histories. Implementing these core clinical pharmacy services for 100% of inpatients in 2020 would require 14,508 additional pharmacist FTEs. Based on the current deployment of clinical pharmacists and the services they perform in U.S. hospitals, change is needed to improve health care outcomes and reduce costs. The average U.S. hospital (based on an average daily census of 108.97 +/- 169.45 patients) would need to add a maximum of 3.32 pharmacist FTEs to provide these core clinical services (if they were not provided already by the hospital). Using this evidence-based approach, the five selected core clinical pharmacy services could be provided with only modest increases in clinical pharmacist staffing.

The feasibility of implementing an evidence-based core set of clinical pharmacy services in 2020: manpower, marketplace factors, and pharmacy leadership.

Development of a national plan to implement a core set of clinical pharmacy services in United States hospitals by 2020 requires assertive leadership from pharmacy organizations and state boards of pharmacy, and a commitment from the profession. Factors that may affect the development are grouped into three areas: manpower, marketplace variables, and pharmacy leadership. Although the number of pharmacy school graduates (7000) was about the same in 1990 and 2000, a greater number of pharmacy schools and high student enrollment, coupled with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education's acceptance of foreign-trained pharmacists, suggest that the number of pharmacists will increase substantially in the near future. We estimate that the net increase in pharmacists (new pharmacy graduates less pharmacists who retire or die) in the United States will be 139,929 from 2000-2020, for a total of 335,040 pharmacists (71% increase). The number of pharmacy technicians increased substantially (66%), from 150,000 in 1996 to 250,000 in 2002. The number of residents in programs accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists increased 148%, from 435 in 1990 to 1080 in 2002. We conservatively project an increase of 33,000 pharmacists who complete residencies from 2000-2020. The pharmacy marketplace has changed dramatically over the last 12 years, with 10,754 independent community pharmacies closing (2.46 pharmacies/day) and 8459 chain outlets opening (1.93 chains/day). In recent years, mail-order pharmacies have expanded faster than other retail outlets and now process over 18% of U.S. prescriptions. Increased use of robotic systems (some can process 5000 prescriptions/hr) and technicians will diminish the demand for dispensing pharmacists. In addition, up to 10% of U.S. retail prescriptions may be filled outside the country's borders. These data indicate that there will be a sufficient supply of pharmacists and technicians in the future. Thus, it is feasible, based on manpower, marketplace factors, and pharmacy leadership, to implement a core set of clinical pharmacy services for patients in U.S. hospitals by 2020.

Clinical pharmacist staffing in United States hospitals.

We evaluated hospital demographics (census regions, size, teaching affiliation, hospital ownership, hospital pharmacy director's degree, pharmacist location within the hospital) and clinical pharmacist staffing/occupied bed in United States hospitals. A database was constructed from the 1992 American Hospital Association's Abridged Guide to the Health Care Field and the 1992 National Clinical Pharmacy Services database. Simple statistical tests and multiple regression analysis were employed. The study population consisted of 1391 hospitals that reported information on clinical pharmacist staffing. The mean number of clinical pharmacists/100 occupied beds was 0.51 +/- 0.18. Factors associated with increased clinical pharmacist staffing were west north central region (slope = 0.0029439, p = 0.002), Pacific region (slope = 0.0032089, p = 0.004), affiliation with pharmacy teaching hospitals (slope = 0.0025330, p = 0.0001), teaching hospitals (slope = 0.0028122, p = 0.001), federal government ownership (slope = 0.0029697, p = 0.012), directors with Pharm.D. degrees (slope = 0.0335020, p = 0.002), directors with M.S. Pharmacy degrees (slope = 0.0028622, p = 0.003), pharmacists in a decentralized location (slope = 0.0035393, p = 0.0001), and pharmacy technician staffing (slope = 0.0517713, p = 0.0001). Statistically significant associations between demographic variables and decreased clinical pharmacist staffing/occupied bed were mid-Atlantic region (slope = -0.0028237, p = 0.002), small size (slope = -0.0028894, p = 0.001), pharmacy directors with B.S. degrees (slope = -0.0019271, p = 0.023), and pharmacy administrator staffing (slope = -0.0184513, p = 0.042). The R2 for this multiple regression analysis was 28.31% and adjusted R2 was 24.83%. Increased pharmacy technician staffing had the greatest association (slope = 0.0517713) with increased clinical pharmacist staffing. Significant differences were observed between clinical pharmacist staffing and hospital demographic factors. It appears that one of the most effective ways to increase clinical pharmacist staffing is to increase pharmacy technician staffing (slope). These findings will help future researchers determine specific reasons why some types of hospitals have higher and some lower levels of clinical pharmacist staffing.

Individualized drug use assessment in the elderly.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To quantify how seniors' ability to take oral prescription drugs safely may correlate with age, sex, socioeconomic status, education, cognitive impairment, depression, and drug self-management. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study SETTING: Three retirement communities and an adult day care center. PATIENTS: Fifty-seven elderly individuals (mean age 79.49 +/- 7.26 yrs; mean education 11.33 +/- 3.8 yrs; 72% women). INTERVENTION: After completing a comprehensive medical history, and with drug vials and pillboxes available for consultation, each subject described how he or she was taking prescribed oral drugs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The MedTake test evaluated dosage, indication, food or water coingestion, and regimen. For each agent, the test was scored as percentage of correct actions, equally weighted, and compared with label directions or self-expressed physician changes. A composite MedTake test score (0-100%) summarized a subject's overall ability to take their drug(s) safely A follow-up qualitative assessment by a single pharmacist assigned each agent to one of four potential risk categories: correct use, partial correct use without potential clinical significance, partial correct use with potential clinical significance, or incorrect use with high potential of clinical significance. Most subjects (80%) managed their own drug therapy; 70% used reminder systems (calendar, pillbox). The number of medical conditions and prescription drugs was 6.11 +/- 4.2 and 5.88 +/- 3.44, respectively. Of 325 agents, correct dosage was reported for 94% (306), correct indication for 95% (309), correct coingestion with food or water for 97% (314), and correct regimen for 89% (288). The composite MedTake test score was 88.5 +/- 21.3%. The multivariate model, with that score as the dependent variable, adjusted for age and sex, used Mini-Mental State Examination (p = 0.002) and Medicaid assistance within 10 years (p = 0.021) as significant factors. The most frequent problem was underdosing of cardiovascular drugs. CONCLUSION: Seniors' ability to take oral prescription drugs safely was affected by cognitive function and socioeconomic status. Although the MedTake test helped identify some problems with therapy adherence, a pharmacist's follow-up evaluation of comprehensive medical and drug histories identified additional potentially clinically significant problems in 20% of subjects.

Clinical pharmacy services, hospital pharmacy staffing, and medication errors in United States hospitals.

The direct relationships and associations among clinical pharmacy services, pharmacist staffing, and medication errors in United States hospitals were evaluated. A database was constructed from the 1992 National Clinical Pharmacy Services database. Both simple and multiple regression analyses were employed to determine relationships and associations. A total of 429,827 medication errors were evaluated from 1081 hospitals (study population). Medication errors occurred in 5.22% of patients admitted to these hospitals each year. Hospitals experienced a medication error every 22.04 hours (every 19.13 admissions). These findings suggest that at minimum, 90,895 patients annually were harmed by medication errors in our nation's general medical-surgical hospitals. Factors associated with increased medication errors/occupied bed/year were drug-use evaluation (slope = 0.0023476, p=0.006), increased staffing of hospital pharmacy administrators/occupied bed (slope = 29.1972932, p<0.001), and increased staffing of dispensing pharmacists/occupied bed (slope = 19.3784148, p<0.001). Factors associated with decreased medication errors/occupied bed/year were presence of a drug information service (slope = -0.1279301, p<0.001), pharmacist-provided adverse drug reaction management (slope = -0.3409332, p<0.001), pharmacist-provided drug protocol management (slope = -0.3981472, p=0.013), pharmacist participation on medical rounds (slope = -0.6974303, p<0.001), pharmacist-provided admission histories (slope = -1.6021493, p<0.001), and increased staffing of clinical pharmacists/occupied bed (slope = -9.5483813, p<0.001). As staffing increased for clinical pharmacists/occupied bed from the 10th percentile to the 90th percentile, medication errors decreased from 700.98 +/- 601.42 to 245.09 +/- 197.38/hospital/year, a decrease of 286%. Specific increases or decreases in yearly medication errors associated with these clinical pharmacy services in the 1081 study hospitals were drug-use evaluation (21,372 more medication errors), drug information services (26,738 fewer medication errors), adverse drug reaction management (44,803 fewer medication errors), drug protocol management (90,019 fewer medication errors), medical round participation (42,859 fewer medication errors), and medication admission histories (17,638 fewer medication errors). Overall, clinical pharmacy services and hospital pharmacy staffing variables were associated with medication error rates. The results of this study should help hospitals reduce the number of medication errors that occur each year.

Medication errors in United States hospitals.

This study evaluated hospital demographics, staffing, pharmacy variables, health care outcomes measures (severity of illness-adjusted mortality rates, drug costs, total cost of care, and length of stay) and medication errors. A database was constructed from the 1992 American Hospital Association's Abridged Guide to the Health Care Field, the 1992 National Clinical Pharmacy Services database, and 1992 mortality data from the Health Care Financing Administration. Simple statistical tests and a severity of illness-adjusted multiple regression analysis were employed. The study population consisted of 1116 hospitals that reported information on medication errors and 913 hospitals that reported information on medication errors that adversely affected patient care outcomes. We evaluated factors associated with the 430,586 medication errors and 17,338 medication errors that adversely affected patient care outcomes. Medication errors occurred in 5.07% of the patients admitted each year to these hospitals. Each hospital experienced a medication error every 22.7 hours (every 19.73 admissions). Medication errors that adversely affected patient care outcomes occurred in 0.25% of all patients admitted to these hospitals/year. Each hospital experienced a medication error that adversely affected patient care outcomes every 19.23 days (or every 401 admissions). The following factors were associated with increased medication errors/occupied bed/year: lack of pharmacy teaching affiliation (slope = 0.8875, p=0.0416), centralized pharmacists (slope = 1.0942, p=0.0001), number of registered nurses/occupied bed (slope = 1.624, p=0.032), number of registered pharmacists/occupied bed (slope = 25.0573, p=0.0001), hospital mortality rate (slope = 2.8017, p=0.0192), and total cost of care/occupied bed/year (slope = 0.01432, p=0.0091). Factors associated with decreased medication errors were location in the Mid-Atlantic census region (slope = -1.5182, p=0.03), affiliation with a pharmacy teaching program (slope = -1.0252, p=0.0349), decentralized pharmacists (slope = -0.9843, p=0.0037), and number of medical residents/occupied bed (slope = -1.478, p=0.0014). There was a 45% decrease in medication errors (1.81-fold decrease) in hospitals that had decentralized pharmacists, compared with hospitals that had centralized pharmacists. In addition, there was a 94% decrease in medication errors that adversely affected patient care outcomes (16.88-fold decrease) in hospitals that had decentralized pharmacists compared with hospitals that had only centralized pharmacists. Based on previous field studies and our findings in 1116 hospitals, it appears that one of the most effective ways to prevent or reduce medication errors is to decentralize pharmacists to patient care areas. The results of this study should help hospitals reduce the number of medication errors that occur each year.