Design and implementation of a quality-assurance program for pharmaceutical services.

The design and implementation of a quality-assurance program for hospital pharmaceutical services provided by a hospital pharmacy management corporation, and the applications of this program to other hospitals are discussed. The quality-assurance program measures performance of the pharmacy department's multidisciplinary, drug distribution, sterile products, purchasing and inventory control, management, and clinical activities. Standards are defined for each area of pharmaceutical services, based on regulatory and professional standards. Each department's compliance with the quality-assurance standards is assessed annually using uniform report forms. Corrective actions are planned and implemented by the department's director based on the assessment. Consultation and peer review are provided by the management corporation. The quality-assurance program allows documentation and improvement of the quality of pharmaceutical services and assures a consistent level of services among hospitals.