title: Evaluating the labour costs associated with pharmacy adaptation services in British Columbia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pharmacists' scope of practice has been steadily expanding across Canada to encompass clinical activities. In January 2009, pharmacists in British Columbia (BC) were given the authority to adapt prescriptions for renewals; change in dose, formulation or regimen; and therapeutic substitutions. This study evaluated the labour costs associated with pharmacy adaptation services in BC. >
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten high-adapting pharmacies participated in the study. Through workflow observations, we measured the time incurred for adapted and nonadapted prescriptions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed 91 adapted prescriptions and 1081 nonadapted prescriptions. The total average time to provide adapted prescriptions was 6:43 minutes (SD 3:50) longer than to provide nonadapted prescriptions. The total average cost of an adapted prescription was $6.10 greater than a nonadapted prescription. Renewals took the least amount of time to complete, and therapeutic substitutions took the most time to complete.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Through workflow observations, it was determined that 10 stages of activity occur when adapting a prescription, with the most time being expended during the documentation and processing phases. Labour costs associated with adapted prescriptions were higher than for nonadapted prescriptions.
authors.forename: Carlo A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: Larry D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Lynd
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Grindrod
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Alana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isakovic