{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: ASHP National Survey of Pharmacy Practice in Hospital Settings: Operations and Technology - 2023.
{Author}: Schneider PJ;Pedersen CA;Ganio MC;Scheckelhoff DJ;
{Journal}: Am J Health Syst Pharm
{Volume}: 81
{Issue}: 16
{Year}: 2024 Aug 12
{Factor}: 2.98
{DOI}: 10.1093/ajhp/zxae118
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Results of the 2023 ASHP National Survey of Pharmacy Practice in Hospital Settings are presented.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Pharmacy directors at 1,497 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 using Qualtrics. IQVIA supplied data on hospital characteristics; the survey sample was drawn from IQVIA's hospital database.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The response rate was 21.6%. Inpatient pharmacists independently prescribe medications in 26.7% of hospitals. Advanced analytics are used in 5.7% of hospitals. Basic analytics are used in 87.3% of hospitals. Pharmacists work in ambulatory or primary care clinics in 54.2% of hospitals operating outpatient clinics. Most hospitals (86.1%) use automated dispensing cabinets as the primary method of maintenance dose distribution. Machine-readable coding is used in 73.6% of hospitals to verify doses during dispensing in the pharmacy. Autoverification functionality in the electronic health record system is used in 73.4% of hospitals. Most hospitals report some integration of pharmacy services to optimize patient care transitions (60.0%), while 24.9% report no integration. Traditional technician activities still predominate, but more advanced roles are emerging. Technologies to assist sterile product preparation are used in 62.8% of hospitals.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Drug distribution continues to trend toward decentralized models with medications available closer to patients. Technologies are enabling this transition to occur without a significant negative impact on patient safety. The pharmacy workforce is stable, and more advanced responsibilities are being assigned to pharmacy technicians, enabling pharmacists to increase their clinical role.