The need for and methods of cost-justifying hospital pharmacy services.
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the interested reader to research priorities and needs for the effective management of hospital pharmacy services. Reference is first made to the new economic milieu for today's management along with the financial incentives for the delivery of cost-justifiable pharmaceutical services and products. The prerequisite for cost-justification is the documentation and collection of appropriate research data. Hence, the issue of a work measurement system as means to generate management data is highlighted. This system is needed to establish the costs of products and services provided; to improve efficiency of the operation; to identify potential managerial problems; and to justify staffing needs and budgeting. The newer trends in cost-justification studies of clinical services are discussed and their related research methods and means are emphasized.
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003625:Data Collection; D008331:Management Information Systems; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States