Evaluation of Clinical Pharmacy Programs: The D.D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center Experience.

Although clinical pharmacy services have existed for a number of years, their cost effectiveness has not been adequately assessed. Clinical pharmacists are members of the patient care team. Besides providing direct patient counseling, clinical pharmacists serve as consultants to providers. In inpatient settings, clinical pharmacists monitor drug orders for accuracy and appropriateness for specific patient needs and diagnoses. This study analyzes over 5,000 inpatient interventions by clinical pharmacists at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center over an eighteen-month period. Estimates of costs avoided by each intervention were compiled and analyzed for a total cost avoidance over the study period of 3,064,348. When total personnel costs were subtracted, an estimated 2,403,447 in costs were avoided for a total cost benefit ratio of 14.64. Types of interventions were also analyzed to identify trends. Recommendations for improvements in the data collection process were included. The methods used to evaluate the clinical pharmacy service provide a comprehensive assessment model for other clinical pharmacy services.