ASHP Annual National Hospital Survey Explores Clinical Services, Formulary and Inventory Management

Join the survey authors Dec. 8, 3-4:30 p.m., at the 2024 ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition in New Orleans, Louisiana, for an interactive discussion of results from the 2024 ASHP National Survey on Hospital Pharmacy Practice. The annual survey of hospital pharmacy leaders is sent to a sample of the nation's nearly 5,000 acute care hospitals.

The session will feature brief presentations of data about a specific topic, followed by interpretation and analysis from the survey authors and interactive discussion as attendees contribute to the conversation before moving on to the next topic.

This year’s survey evaluates clinical services offered by hospital pharmacies, updating results from the 2021 survey and trending data across previous years. The survey authors will discuss the scope of clinical services provided in inpatient and ambulatory care settings, the status of pharmacists’ independent prescribing authority, and the prevalence of privileging and credentialing programs. Recent surveys have found that privileging and credentialing programs exist in 22% of hospitals but have increased in the past decade. The prevalence of pharmacist independent prescriptive authority has remained relatively flat since the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey authors will share updated statistics and trends for these services and more as they discuss the 2024 results.

The number of active, ongoing drug shortages reached an all-time high of 323 earlier this year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized a rule that provides financial support for small hospitals to maintain a buffer inventory of select essential medicines. This year’s survey results include data on drug shortage management, the prevalence of buffer inventories, and barriers to building and maintaining large inventories.

The survey results also include information about formulary and inventory management. The status of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act continues to change; the survey team will discuss how prepared hospitals are for the upcoming deadline. The survey also includes data on formulary status of medical cannabis, and biosimilar adoption, marking the first time these data have been collected.

The pharmacy workforce has been a critical topic for several years. Staff turnover rates and the availability of qualified pharmacists, technicians, and pharmacy leaders have exhibited concerning trends in recent surveys. Authors will discuss updated results about the pharmacy workforce, including perceived availability of qualified staff and strategies in the recruitment and retention of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists.

For up-to-date information about Midyear session times and locations, download the ASHP LIVE! App or visit the online session schedule.