Development of standards for providing prescription drugs by mail.

The development and implementation of practice standards for a mail-service pharmacy are described. Literature, licensing regulations, and existing national practice standards were reviewed. Selected mail-service pharmacies were surveyed on their practice standards. Patients who had received prescription drugs by mail from a university hospital pharmacy were asked their opinions of the service in a telephone survey. Based on the information gathered, a set of practice standards was drafted. The draft was considered by a panel of experts who reached a consensus on mail-service pharmacy practice standards. The standards were implemented at a university hospital's outpatient pharmacy. Standards of practice for mail-service pharmacies were developed and applied at a university hospital outpatient pharmacy. Other pharmacies may find the standards useful.