Hospital Pharmacy

Definition of Hospital Pharmacy

Hospital pharmacy is defined as the actual practice of pharmacy in a hospital. In this department, the drugs are procured, preserved, stored, compounded, assayed, manufactured, dispensed, packed, and distributed to inpatients and outpatients by professionally competent and legally qualified pharmacists.

Here pharmacists advise patients, physicians, and other health care professionals on the selection of doses, drug adverse effects, and drug interactions.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To provide effective pharmaceutical and clinical services in an organized manner.
2. To ensure availability of the right medication, at the right time, in the right dose at the minimum possible cost.
3. To promote the understanding of hospital pharmacy practice by the public, government, industry, and other health care professionals.
4. To conduct pharmaceutical research of a scientific, clinical, or administrative nature with the motto of improving pharmaceutical care and the profession.
5. To participate in discussing and implementing the decision taken by the P&T committee.
6. To establish a drug information center to provide necessary information to physicians, nurses, or any other professionally competent persons in dealing drugs.
7. To manufacture drugs that are used in critical conditions by patients that are not readily available from drug manufacturing companies.
8. To interact, cooperate, and coordinate with various departments of the hospital.

Location and layout of Hospital Pharmacy

The location of the hospital pharmacy should be in such a way that it is convenient for providing services to all the departments of the hospital and personnel who make their daily use.

If the hospital is providing outpatient services then the pharmacy should be located adjacent to the outpatient department.

The requirements relating to the manufacture of tablets, parenteral, and preparations must be under aseptic conditions, and packings are laid in schedule ‘M’ of Drugs & Cosmetic rules.

Floor Space:

A minimum space of 250sq.ft may be allocated for the hospital pharmacy. The basic requirement of floor space is 10 sq. ft per bed in a 100-bed hospital and 6 sq. ft per bed in a 200-bed hospital is required.

In fracture Requirement:

The pharmacist, administrator, and architect assume the responsibility of planning, and purchasing equipment required by the pharmacy. The equipments are mainly categorized into two types. They are:

1. Fixed equipment
2. Movable equipments

Fixed equipment requires installation and becomes attached to the building and the movable equipment is placed inside the pharmacy and no need for installation.

For Outpatient Pharmacy:

1. Fixed equipment:

• Counter withdraw and knee space.
• Shelves for books.
• Wall-mounted adjustable draws.
• Shelves with lock & key facility.

2. Movable equipments:

• Adjustable stools and chairs.
• Refrigerator
• Computer and printer
• Cabinets
• Telephone
• Waste receptacle.

For Inpatient Dispensing Pharmacy:

• Wall mounted cabinets
• Counter with draw and knee space
• Pneumatic tube station
• Autoclave
• Wash area
• Hood, laminar airflow
• Waste receptacle
• Adjustable shelves
• Bookshelves
• Chairs for waiting areas etc.

Staff:

The staff requirements for hospital pharmacies depend on

• Number of beds in a hospital.
• Average number of inpatients and outpatients
• Activities of the unit
• Whether the pharmacy also stocks and dispenses surgical & laboratory supplies, etc

According to the job evaluation guidelines these are

• One chief pharmacist
• One registered pharmacist for every 60 inpatients and outpatients.
• One typist cum clerk
• Adequate number of assistants and attainders.

For a hospital pharmacy involved in the manufacture of drugs and formulations, These are

• A deputy chief pharmacist or manufacturing pharmacist
• One analytical pharmacist

For purchase and inventory control a deputy chief pharmacist with thorough knowledge of purchasing.

Work Load Statistics:

The workload statistics evaluation is mainly based on the flowchart process preparation. Once it is prepared the pharmacist evaluates the time and motion involved in the performance of each job in each department.

A. Out Patient Activity Chart:

B. In Patient Activity Chart:

Pharmacists perform the work in manufacturing sections like

• Weighing of ingredients
• Mixing of ingredients
• Taking orders on telephones or by mail.
• Providing information
• Maintaining all records
• Training apprentice
• Organizing awareness camps
• R & D activities.

The supportive personnel under the supervision of a registered pharmacist perform the functions of

• Inventory supplies & restocking prescription items.
• Calculate the price of prescriptions dispensed.
• Clean bulk manufacturing and preparing the equipment.
• Delivery of drugs to wards, nursing stations, and doctors.
• Pay purchase accounts. Etc.

Operating Structure of A Hospital Pharmacy:

Make sure you also check our other amazing Article on: Organization of Hospitals