Clinical pharmacists' impact on prescribing in an acute adult psychiatric facility.
An analysis is presented of data collected to evaluate the impact of a clinical pharmacy service on an acute psychiatric admitting unit. Retrospective longitudinal drug utilization reviews (RLDUR) were performed one year apart (pre- and post-implementation of services) on the same treatment team. Process measures significantly affected include (percent reduction): total drugs/patient (33.9), number of antipsychotic drugs/patient (38.0), number of anticholinergics started on admission/patient (53.2), and number of doses/patient/d (42.4). Other drug-use parameters significantly affected include: a 42-percent increase in the mean dosage expressed as chlorpromazine equivalents, and a 47-percent reduction in the number of patients on low potency antipsychotic medications. Beneficial outcome was reflected by a faster rate of discharge or transfer to a less restrictive ward environment in the pharmacy study population. The study population also demonstrated a 55.8-percent decrease in their readmission rate to the facility over a one-year follow-up period. Clinical pharmacy services positively affect both process and outcome health care measures.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D010343:Patient Admission; D010595:Pharmacists; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy