Cost analysis of a satellite pharmacy.

The cost-effectiveness of a satellite pharmacy that serves 100 beds in a 550-bed community teaching institution was determined. On one day six months before and one day six months after the satellite pharmacy was implemented, 30 patients were randomly selected for study from the 50-bed surgical-trauma unit and the 50-bed medical oncology unit served by the satellite. Data for the cost analysis were collected from the medical charts of these 60 patients; each patient's entire hospital stay was used for all calculations. Data collected included costs per patient day for drugs, i.v. therapy, and laboratory tests; total hospital costs per patient day; number of doses per patient day; and length of hospital stay. There were no significant differences in patient age or sex, length of hospital stay, or patient mix among patients studied before and after the satellite pharmacy was implemented. The cost per patient day for drugs was significantly less after the satellite pharmacy was implemented. A cost analysis based on this decrease in drug costs per patient day of $5.77 showed that an annual savings of $134,927 could be realized as a result of satellite pharmacy implementation. Implementation of a pharmacy satellite proved to be cost-effective, largely because of decreased drug costs.