Pharmacy services to long term facilities--diversification strategy? A survey of Illinois hospital pharmacists.
Hospital directors of pharmacy are currently seeking alternatives to inpatient services to offset hospital losses resulting from Diagnosis Related Group legislation. Provision of pharmacy services to long term care facilities is examined as an alternative. As survey of Illinois hospitals was conducted. Results indicated investigation of long term care services was limited. Only 28% of nonproviders had investigated this activity. Eighty percent of this group, however, indicated other directors of pharmacy would investigate this alternative. Barriers to initiation were perceived as additional personnel and legal constraints. Additional interest in this activity may occur following expected improvements in Medicare long term care benefits. These improvements are foreseen following completion of reports on long term care services mandated by recent Medicare Catastrophic Coverage.
D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006740:Hospital Administrators; D006754:Hospital Restructuring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007087:Illinois; D006278:Medicare; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires