For the efficient and flawless operation of a hospital, all its departments should function as a system of interdependent and well-managed elements. The pharmacy department is not an exception, as its role in patients’ treatment is crucial. It is responsible for managing drug supply and providing pharmaceutical services. If there is a problem in its operation, the whole treatment process would be interrupted, decelerated, or stopped. Hospital pharmacy operations should be well-organized and managed to prevent such a scenario.
One of the major problems pharmacy management faces is the misuse of medications. According to Tripicchio et al. (2020), this issue is preventable, and the best solution for it would be implementing “comprehensive medication management (CMM)” (p. 1416). Such an approach implies “that each patient’s medications are evaluated to determine appropriateness, effectiveness, safety, adherence, and accessibility” (Tripicchio et al., 2020, p.1416). It allows the care team to create “an individualized medication therapy care plan” and optimize medication use (Tripicchio et al., 2020, p.1416). Tripicchio et al. (2020) highlighted that CMM had already been tested and showed “positive clinical outcomes” (p.1416). Thus, it can be viewed as an effective pharmacy management strategy, as its utilization improves and accelerates the treatment process. Moreover, it is beneficial from the economic point of view due to decreasing unnecessary medication spendings.
Efficient hospital pharmacy management becomes vital, and its importance is especially evident during crises. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a test for many hospitals that checks their readiness for such an emergency, ability to adapt to new circumstances, and flexibility in strategical choices. Ying et al. (2020) evaluated the performance of the Pharmaceutical Department of The Third Hospital of Jilin University (THJU) during the COVID-19 crisis. According to the scholars, the Pharmaceutical Department’s response “provided effective support for prevention, control and treatments of COVID-19” and minimized the virus’s spread among the patients and the staff (Ying et al., 2020, p. 1978). Its practices of preventing and controlling COVID-19 addressed four groups of factors: personnel, drug supply, off-label drug use, and pharmaceutical care (Ying et al., 2020, pp. 1979-1981). By considering all of these aspects, THJU’s Pharmaceutical Department managed to form an efficient operating strategy during the pandemic.
The impact of COVID-19 on hospital pharmacy management was also studied by some other researchers. Herzik and Bethishou (2020) agree that the pandemic has become a challenge for pharmacists. They shared the experience of two other hospitals (Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian) that successfully optimized their pharmacy management strategies in an emergency (Herzik & Bethishou, 2020). For instance, their operational practices included the increased use of electronic devices, programs, and applications to minimize contact with the patients and consequently the spread of the disease (Herzik & Bethishou, 2020). The presented examples can be viewed as proof of the importance of well-organized hospital pharmacy management.
In conclusion, well-organized pharmacy management is vital for the hospital’s flawless functioning. The choice of effective pharmacy management strategies can be beneficial for the treatment process and the hospital’s economic maintenance. Moreover, in critical situations, the pharmaceutical department’s work is especially important, as it should quickly adapt to the new circumstances and adequately address new challenges. The scholars have studied the response of several hospitals to the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrated how efficient pharmacy management contributed to minimizing the spread of the virus.
References
Herzik, K.A., & Bethishou, L. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on pharmacy transitions of care services.Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 17(1), 1908-1912. Web.
Tripicchio, K., Urick, B., Easter, J., & Ozawa, S. (2020). Making the economic value proposition for pharmacist comprehensive medication management (CMM) in primary care: A conceptual framework. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 16(10), 1416-1421. Web.
Ying, W., Qian, Y., & Kun, Z. (2020). Drugs supply and pharmaceutical care management practices at a designated hospital during the COVID-19 epidemic.Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 17(1), 1978-1983. Web.