PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B R Schnell

Publications and source records attributed to B R Schnell.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

The Canadian hospital pharmacy workload measurement study.

"One pharmacist for every 100 beds" has been the traditional rule of thumb used in determining hospital pharmacy staffing requirements in North America. Hospital pharmacy practice has undergone profound changes over the past 20 years. Staffing requirements for contemporary hospital pharmacy practice determined by the traditional guideline are outdated and of limited value. The Canadian government, through its National Health Research and Development Program, funded a $225,000 study to develop a Canadian Hospital Pharmacy Workload Measurement System which would provide a data base for a more accurate determination of staffing requirements for hospital pharmacies. Time studies were carried out to measure the personnel time required to perform defined activities that collectively formed a pharmacy service or function.

Canada↗

Administration and the hospital pharmacist.

What is administration anyway? Administration is just one damn thing after another! Why is it important? Good administration is necessary for a strong hospital pharmacy department. Weak departments don't get a lot of attention these days--until they really screw up! The average hospital pharmacist often overlooks the importance of good administration in the hectic day to day activities of providing pharmaceutical services. I will attempt to shed some light on the frequently misunderstood role of administration and the usually much maligned administrator.

Decision Making, Organizational↗

Utilization of psychotropic drugs in Saskatchewan: 1977-1980.

Psychotropic drug use in Saskatchewan during 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 was determined. Approximately one in five prescriptions dispensed was for a psychotropic. About 20% of the population received psychotropic drugs in each year but use has declined slightly, especially that of tranquilizers. Psychotropic use increased with the patient's age and nearly two-thirds were women. Considerable caution should be exercised in making comparisons with other drug utilization studies. There may be substantial differences in the drugs selected for study, the categorization of these drugs, and the methodology used to analyze drug use. Also, most studies are based on data that is from a decade old or older. Moreover, most if not all other studies on drug use are based on sample surveys (from different sampling universes), whereas the present study is based on the entire population. Nevertheless, some generalizations may be valid. Since non-formulary drugs are excluded, the findings should be regarded as conservative. Examples of non-formulary drugs considered to be psychotropic include antispasmodic/tranquilizer/sedative combinations (example: Librax, Donnatal), combination hypnotics (example: Tuinal, Mandrax), and some combination analgesics (example: propoxyphene compounds, pentazocine compound, oxycodone compound).

Adolescent↗

The development of a Canadian hospital pharmacy workload measurement system.

The aim of the proposed study is to establish a national workload measurement system for hospital pharmacy in Canada. No reliable method presently exists to determine staffing requirements for hospital pharmacy. In order to establish staffing guidelines, a method of scientifically assessing and measuring hospital pharmacy workloads is needed. It is proposed to develop worlkload measurement data for hospital pharmacy according to the Canadian Workload Recording Method of Statistics Canada. The Canadian Workload Recording Method was developed to provide a scientific basis for measuring clinical laboratory workload, thus promoting effective laboratory management. This method is now being applied to other health professions. Data for hospital pharmacy will be collected from various hospital pharmacy departments across Canada based on standardized definitions of modern hospital pharmacy practice. The proposed study will be carried out over a period of two years by a research group located at the College of Pharmacy, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, in cooperation with the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. Workload measurement data of pharmacy services in Canadian hospitals will serve as a valuable management tool for hospital pharmacy directors, hospital administrators and federal-provincial funding agencies in the determination of total manpower needs and resources for hospital pharmacy. Also, information obtained will be of administrative assistance in the areas of: (a) development of standardized methods of recording hospital pharmacy management information; (b) generation of valid and reliable data to allow comparative studies of hospital pharmacy departments in terms of productivity and utilization of manpower; (c) determination of the proper staffing ratio between pharmacists and supportive personnel; and (d) development of short and long-term planning goals for the hospital pharmacy department. The Canadian Workload Recording Method was designed to reflect current practice by a system of continuous monitoring and review by the user. As new pharmaceutical services develop, additional workload studies can be conducted to establish new standards demonstrating the impact of future programs on manpower requirements.

Canada↗