Pharmacy Staffing Shortages
Contributing to More Drug-Related Errors
Survey Reveals Perceived Correlation between Vacancies,
Reduced Ability to Monitor Medication Safety
BETHESDA, MD. 16 July 2003 — A notable number
of pharmacy directors in America’s hospitals
and health systems perceive that there have been more
errors in the pharmacy (38 percent) and less pharmacist
vigilance toward medication safety in the hospital
(45 percent) as a result of pharmacist vacancies, according
to a new pharmacy staffing survey.
Conducted by the American Society of Health-System
Pharmacists (ASHP), the study found that more than
half of pharmacy directors reported that pharmacist
vacancies have resulted in reduction of services while
staff were re-deployed or reassigned to cover other
areas.
Small hospitals, especially those with less than 100
beds, are experiencing ongoing staffing challenges
with higher pharmacist vacancy and turnover rates than
large hospitals in the U.S. Turnover rates among pharmacy
staff in small hospitals (one to 99 beds) were 11.4
percent compared to 5.8 percent in large hospitals
(400 or more); small hospitals make up 44 percent of
all hospitals in the U.S.
“The survey findings show a general improvement
in pharmacist recruitment and retention in the nation’s
hospitals and health systems,” said Douglas J.
Scheckelhoff, M.S., FASHP, Director, ASHP Pharmacy
Practice Sections. “However, we’re concerned
that ongoing shortages appear to be compromising medication
safety efforts in the pharmacy. We’re hoping
that the results of this survey will provide pharmacy
directors with a blueprint for designing a workplace
environment that can help them recruit and retain personnel.”
A number of tactics are being employed to combat shortages,
including offering flexible scheduling, providing signing
bonuses, and changing practice environments to be more
professionally rewarding. Overall, reported vacancy
rates have fallen from 6.9 percent in 2002 to 5.6 percent
in 2003.
Pharmacy directors at 578 hospitals and health systems
throughout the U.S. answered questions about vacancy
levels, available positions, and the supply of qualified
pharmacists. The survey also examined different factors
that influence personnel recruitment and retention,
including hiring incentives, salaries, physical environment,
lifestyle considerations, and professional practice.
More than half of respondents reported that pharmacy
vacancies have prompted practice changes to allow pharmacists
to assume more clinical roles while delaying expansion
of pharmacy programs or services into new areas.
The study also showed that 44 percent of pharmacy
directors are expanding the roles and responsibilities
of pharmacy technicians in response to shortages. Just
over 31 percent reported increasing the use of automation.
For
a copy of the May 2003 survey, go to www.ashp.org/practicemanager/StaffSurvey2003.pdf. ASHP is the 30,000-member national professional association
that represents pharmacists who practice in hospitals,
health maintenance organizations, ambulatory care clinics,
long-term care facilities, home care, and other components
of health care systems. ASHP, which has a long history
of medication error prevention efforts, believes that
the mission of pharmacists is to help people make the
best use of medicines. Assisting pharmacists in fulfilling
this mission is ASHP’s primary objective. The
Society has extensive publishing and educational programs
designed to help members improve their professional
practice, and it is the national accrediting organization
for pharmacy residency and pharmacy technician training
programs. For more information, visit ASHP’s
Web site, www.ashp.org, or its consumer Web site, www.safemedication.com.—ASHP
Press Release
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