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Biomedical subjects

K W Kirk

Publications and source records attributed to K W Kirk.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

National survey of state psychiatric hospital pharmacies.

The results of a winter 1990 nationwide mail survey of pharmaceutical services provided in state psychiatric hospitals are reported and discussed. The survey universe consisted of all 207 state psychiatric hospitals registered by the American Hospital Association. Private and federal and other government-operated psychiatric hospitals were not included. Questionnaires were mailed to the director of pharmacy at each institution. Two questionnaires were not deliverable. There were 117 usable replies, for a net response rate of 57.1%. Compared with community hospitals, state psychiatric hospitals had pharmacy departments that were open fewer hours per week, occupied more floor space, were less likely to have a complete unit dose distribution system and i.v. admixture program, had lower inventory turnover rates, and had fewer full-time positions. About 28% of the respondents employed pharmacists who spent at least two thirds of their time providing clinical services. Differences in the provision of pharmaceutical services between state psychiatric hospitals and community hospitals may be due in part to the fact that most of the former are long-term-care institutions rendering a specific class of therapies.

Formularies, Hospital as Topic↗
PubMed1990

The pharmacy supervisor and the employee pharmacist's job satisfaction.

It seems obvious that satisfaction with one's immediate supervisor would have a significant impact on one's general job satisfaction. However, this relationship has received little attention in the pharmacy literature. This study was designed to determine 1) whether there are differences in job-related satisfaction between pharmacists whose immediate supervisors are pharmacists and those whose supervisors are not pharmacists, and 2) whether the occurrence of conflict between a pharmacist and his or her immediate supervisor is related to the employee pharmacist's job and career satisfaction. The most pronounced finding was the importance of supervisors being pharmacists: satisfaction on five of six satisfaction subscales was related to whether one's supervisor was a pharmacist. Moreover, pharmacists who had the fewest conflicts and disagreements with their supervisors were more satisfied with their choice of pharmacy as a career, their employers, their supervisors, and their jobs.

Job Satisfaction↗
PubMed1987

The development of a Pharmacy Student Work Values Inventory (PSWVI).

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument that measures pharmacy student work values. The instrument was included in a questionnaire mailed to 1,820 pharmacy students who had just graduated or were in their last year of pharmacy school from 19 schools of pharmacy nationwide. A total of 738 questionnaires were deemed usable for a usable rate of 41.5 percent. After Varimax factor analysis, eleven reliable factors emerged: Quality Patient Care; Supervision and Company Policy; Work Creativity/Variety; Status; Management/Leadership; Economic Return; Work Schedule; Family Responsibilities; Job Security; Co-worker Relationships; and Policies and Procedures. "Job Security," "Family Responsibilities," and "Patient Care" were rated least and negatively important respectively. There were no differences between BS and PharmD degree aspirants on the eleven factors; however, there were some significant differences between sexes. Women rated "Supervision and Company Policy" and "Quality Patient Care" higher than men. Men did not negatively value "Work Schedule" as much as women did, i.e., women preferred to work traditional, weekday hours.

Education, Pharmacy↗
PubMed1987

The impact of outpatient drug benefits on the use and costs of health care services for the elderly.

In light of the current debate surrounding the extension of Medicare benefits to cover outpatient drugs, it is important to increase our understanding of the impact of drug payment programs on overall health care outcomes and expenditures. In this retrospective study of health care use among Medicare beneficiaries in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, we studied the impact of New Jersey's Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Aged (PAA) program on health care costs. Using multiple regression analysis, we found that New Jersey Medicare recipients used, on average, $238.50 less in inpatient hospital care under the PAA program than did their counterparts in eastern Pennsylvania, which did not have a drug payment assistance program in place. Although administrative costs may have reduced overall savings, it seems reasonable to conclude that the PAA program resulted in no overall health care cost increases.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Estimating pharmacy level prescription drug acquisition costs for third-party reimbursement.

Accurate payment for the acquisition costs of drug products dispensed is an important consideration in a third-party prescription drug program. Two alternative methods of estimating these costs among pharmacies were derived and compared. First, pharmacists were surveyed to determine the purchase discounts offered to them by wholesalers. A 10.00% modal and 11.35% mean discount resulted for 73 responding pharmacists. Second, cost-plus percents derived from gross profit margins of wholesalers were calculated and applied to wholesaler product costs to estimate pharmacy level acquisition costs. Cost-plus percents derived from National Median and Southwestern Region wholesaler figures were 9.27% and 10.10%, respectively. A comparison showed the two methods of estimating acquisition costs would result in similar acquisition cost estimates. Adopting a cost-plus estimating approach is recommended because it avoids potential pricing manipulations by wholesalers and manufacturers that would negate improvements in drug product reimbursement accuracy.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1984

PRN drug utilization in Indiana long-term care facilities.

Data collected from a sample of 307 private and Medicaid patients from 20 LTCFs in Indiana showed that patients were prescribed an average of 4.9 PRN medications. Significant differences were found between the types of LTCFs and the average number of PRN medications per patient. In 14 LTCFs classified as both ICF and SNF, patients were prescribed an average of 4.7 PRN medications. In four LTCFs classified ICFs, patients were prescribed an average of 6.2 PRN medications. In two LTCFs classified as SNFs, patients were prescribed an average of 3.9 PRN medications. The average number of PRN medications per Medicaid patient was 5.2 while the average number of PRN medications per private patient was 4.8. Overall, 48.8% of all PRN medication orders were never consumed during the study period. Mean PRN medication utilization per LTCF ranged from 2.5 per cent to 36.4%. It is assumed that if PRN medication not being consumed/used by the patient were to be returned to the pharmacy, a substantial cost savings could be realized by the responsible party.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1984

Cost of discarded medication in Indiana long-term care facilities.

The cost of discarded medication was studied in 17 Indiana intermediate-care and skilled-nursing facilities with varying bed capacities and drug-distribution systems. During visits to each facility, one or two pharmacists collected data on patients' drug regimens and the quantities of medication dispensed and discarded over periods of one to seven months. A total of $ 5,620 worth of medication ($ 4,472 excluding topical medications) was destroyed in the facilities during the study period. The projected annual cost of discarded medication was approximately $ 15,800 ($ 12,460 excluding topical medications). In the 13 facilities using some type of unit dose drug distribution system, the mean projected annual cost of discarded medication per patient ($ 4.07) was significantly less than for the four facilities using traditional drug-distribution systems ($ 23.54). There was an inverse relationship between bed capacity and mean projected annual cost of discarded medication per patient. The use of unit dose drug distribution systems in all long-term care facilities would be expected to result in substantial savings in the costs of discarded medications.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1983

Operational characteristics of hospital pharmacies in Indiana--1976 vs. 1981.

The operating characteristics and services provided by hospital pharmacies in Indiana were determined. Survey questionnaires were mailed to the pharmacy director for each of the 120 licensed hospitals in Indiana; 62 responded. Pharmacy departments were open an average of 106.3 hours weekly, 51 pharmacies maintained patient profiles, and 29 pharmacies used unit-dose for all beds. Involvement in preparing I.V. solutions was reported by 67.7% of the pharmacies. The mean number of total pharmacy staff (FTEs) reported was 17.1. The ratio of staff FTEs per patient day was larger for pharmacies using a unit-dose distribution system. The most commonly provided clinical services were drug consultation with nursing, drug utilization review, and inservice education. Ratios of average dollar drug inventory and operating expenses per patient day indicated that larger hospitals were more effective with inventory control, but had higher expenses per patient day.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1982

Women in male-dominated professions.

The problems faced by women pharmacists are discussed in relation to the literature on women in male-dominated fields. Subconscious stereotypes preclude the occurrence of true equality for women pharmacists in many hospitals. Some people have predicted that the clinical pharmacist role will be primarily filled by men since men are perceived to have the time commitment, aggressiveness, and rapport with physicians that is considered necessary for that role. Women in health professions are perceived to be dedicated to service and not self-interest, and people expect them to drop out of the labor force to raise families, thus obviating the need for promotions and salary increases. Research has shown that women in male-dominated fields place more importance on success values than do women in other fields. Fear of success, defined as anxiety about doing well when competing with men, can be a problem for women, particularly if they have a strong affiliative need. It is important that women in male-dominated professions become actively involved in professional organizations to facilitate their gaining a professional identity. In addition, these women need to be encouraged to seek out managerial positions and to be given a clearer understanding that being a manager can be combined with family and household responsibilities. People can eliminate stereotypes from their thinking only if, after they admit the stereotypes exist, they make a conscious effort to not treat women pharmacists on the basis of what women pharmacists have done in the past.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed1981

Men and women as pharmacy managers.

The managerial position held by men and women pharmacists in three primary practice settings were examined and compared. A nationwide survey, using a pretested 12-page questionnaire, was sent to 2100 pharmacists in hospitals, independently owned pharmacies, and chain-store pharmacies. The variables examined by discriminant analysis were sex, age, years with employer, the number of times a pharmacist left practice, and educational level. A total of 767 completed questionnaires were used in the analysis for a 39.6% response rate, and 57.6% of the sample was women. Women were found to be significantly under represented in managerial positions in all three practice settings; however, there were a greater percentage of women in managerial positions in hospital pharmacies than in independently owned or chain-store pharmacies (p less than or equal to 0.001). When age was controlled in the analysis, there were more women at the staff level than men in all the age categories above 25. The discriminant analysis showed that advanced education was a significant factor in a pharmacist's position in hospital pharmacies but not in community pharmacies. The sex of the pharmacist showed the highest discriminating power in classifying the position of community pharmacists. Women pharmacists were under represented in managerial positions in all three practice environments. However, hospital pharmacy had a greater percentage of women in managerial positions than community pharmacy.

Adult↗