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Survey of Hospital Pharmacy Directors Reveals Drug Shortages are Top Issue

Hospital pharmacy directors say drug shortage management was their top challenge in 2018. Other top issues include meeting requirements without increased budget, increasing pharmacy’s role in patient care, and drug diversion events. The fifth annual edition of the Hospital Pharmacy Operations Report (HPOR) captured insights from pharmacy leaders that impact over 1,000 hospitals. Over 75% of the respondents were directors of hospital pharmacy and the balance was either more senior or in pharmacy management roles.

kit check 2018 hospital pharmacy operations report

You can download the full report here.

In 2017, meeting requirements without adequate budget and drug price increases were the top two cited issues. For the last several years the top five challenges for hospital pharmacies have been consistent with different items shifting among the top slots. The HPOR includes 11 charts and a dozen pages of analysis. Topics covered include:

  • Top challenges
  • Drug shortages
  • Drug diversion events
  • Personnel, staffing, and budget trends
  • Technology funding for equipment
  • Technology funding for software solutions

We hope you find the insights offered by hospital pharmacy management and leadership related to operational practices today to be a valuable resource in the year to come.