ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings: prescribing and transcribing—2007.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) offers policy positions, statements, and guidelines to ensure safe inpatient medication administration. This study highlights their findings from a survey of more than 1200 pharmacy directors across the country. Major trends identified since past administrations of the same survey include a gradual decline in use of the formulary system, an increase in the use of clinical practice guidelines, a growth in methods to improve prescribing practices, and rapid changes in practice driven by accreditation standards. The authors conclude that pharmacists are responding to changes in the health care system and driving efforts to improve medication use.