Pseudopharmacy practice and the future.

Abstract

From the perspective of a researcher, the practice of hospital pharmacy is observed and future trends are discussed. Society is changing rapidly, and hospital pharmacy must seek innovative responses. In the past, hospital pharmacy has sometimes responded with pseudopharmacy--a term coined for paying lip service to implementing innovative pharmacy programs. Unit dose dispensing is used as an example of an innovative response that has been implemented in a manner that is inconsistent with the results of original study. Visions of several aspects of hospital pharmacy in the future are presented. Hospital outpatient pharmacies may be designed and run like chain drug stores, or by them. The emphasis will be upon marketing of pharmacy services to the consumer and providing information on self-medication. Pharmacy practice may be physically disassembled or completely decentralized. Prescription dispensing will be completely automated. Hospital pharmacy must prepare itself to deal with such new developments quickly with positive proposals that will withstand the closest scrutiny. Pseudopharmacy can be avoided if objective feedback in the form of a continuing critical review and analysis of ASHP policies and programs is provided. It is proposed that ASHP create, fund, and operate an independent Policy Analysis Laboratory for this purpose.