{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings: Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacy operations-2020.
{Author}: Pedersen CA;Schneider PJ;Ganio MC;Scheckelhoff DJ;
{Journal}: Am J Health Syst Pharm
{Volume}: 78
{Issue}: 18
{Year}: 09 2021 7
{Factor}: 2.98
{DOI}: 10.1093/ajhp/zxab212
{Abstract}: Results of the 2020 ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings pertaining to pharmacy operational changes implemented in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are presented.
Pharmacy directors at 1,437 general and children's medical/surgical hospitals in the United States were surveyed using a mixed-mode method of contact by email and mail. Survey completion was online.
The response rate was 18.7%. Seventy-three percent of hospitals implemented changes to hospital units, including 46% that increased intensive care unit bed capacity; 94% made changes to pharmacy supply chain acquisition, changes to products, and/or increased inventory. Staffing changes were implemented by 69% of hospitals, with the most common being staffing reductions (55%) and salary reductions (16%). Medication-use changes were implemented by 86% of hospitals, with treatment guidelines for COVID-19 treatment (79%) and opening compassionate use or investigational drug studies (55%) being the most common. Changes in sterile compounding processes were implemented by 84% of hospitals. Personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages led to 71% of hospitals modifying PPE use standards in sterile compounding. Eighty-seven percent of hospitals changed operational activities, such as changing medication return practices (56%), medication reconciliation processes (46%), intravenous medication recycling (38%), and discharge counseling (37%). Hospitals experienced shortages of many medications, including albuterol inhalers (60%), sedatives and anesthetic agents (58%), neuromuscular blockers (43%), corticosteroids (34%), cardiovascular agents (24%), investigational agents (24%), and dialysis solutions (6%).
The pharmacy profession responded to myriad threats to operations and patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.