title: Justification for a pediatric satellite pharmacy at a tertiary-care institution.
abstract: The justification for a pediatric satellite pharmacy is described. Of the 742 inpatient beds in a tertiary-care medical center, 150 are dedicated to pediatric patients. The pharmacy department provides services to both adult and pediatric patients from a central pharmacy. However, unit dose drug distribution services are not provided to the nurseries. Furthermore, the department lacks a core of pharmacists specializing in pediatric practice. As a result, the ability of the pharmacy to support pediatric drug use has been compromised, and medication errors and infection control problems have occurred that can be attributed to this situation. A pediatric satellite pharmacy was proposed to improve the quality of pediatric care. Service objectives were established, and benefits were identified. A financial analysis was included in the proposal that documented a total gain attributable to a pediatric satellite pharmacy of approximately $285,000 over five years. The satellite pharmacy was approved by hospital administration. The pharmacy department's quality assurance committee will monitor the satellite's impact. The justification for a proposed pediatric satellite pharmacy included indications that the satellite could correct medication-related problems and improve pediatric care and that implementation would have a positive effect on finances.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Service, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109-1998.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015274:Interdepartmental Relations; D009820:Ohio; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care