Clinical and economic impact of pharmacist interventions in an ambulatory hematology–oncology department
- 16 April 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice
- Vol. 26 (5), 1172-1179
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1078155220915763
Abstract
To evaluate clinical and financial impact of pharmacist interventions in an ambulatory adult hematology–oncology department. All cancer patients receiving a first injectable immuno- and/or chemotherapy regimen were included in this prospective study over a one-year period. The clinical impact of pharmacist interventions made by two clinical pharmacists was rated using the Clinical Economic and Organizational tool. Financial impact was calculated through cost savings and cost avoidance. Main results: Five hundred and fifty-eight patients were included. A total of 1970 pharmacist interventions were performed corresponding to a mean number of 3.5 pharmacist interventions/patient. The clinical impact of pharmacist interventions was classified as negative, null, minor, moderate, major and lethal in 0, 84 (4%), 1353 (68%), 385 (20%), 148 (8%) and 0 cases, respectively. The overall cost savings were €175,563. One hundred and nine (6%) of all pharmacist interventions concerned immuno- or chemotherapy regimen for cost savings of €148,032 (84% of the total amount of cost savings). The cost avoidance was €390,480. Cost avoidance results were robust to sensitivity analyses with cost of preventable adverse drug event as main driver of the model. When the cost of employing a pharmacist was subtracted from the average yearly cost savings plus cost avoidance per pharmacist, this yielded a net benefit of €223,021. The cost–benefit ratio of the clinical pharmacist was €3.7 for every €1 invested. Principal conclusions: To have two full-time clinical pharmacists in a 55-bed ambulatory adult hematology–oncology department is both clinically and financially beneficial.Keywords
This publication has 22 references indexed in Scilit:
- Cost-avoidance and qualitative analysis of clinical pharmacy interventions by psychiatric pharmacy residents at state psychiatric facilitiesAmerican Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 2016
- Oral intake of curcumin markedly activated CYP 3A4: in vivo and ex-vivo studiesScientific Reports, 2014
- Cost Savings Associated With Pharmacy Student Interventions During APPEsAmerican Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 2014
- Potential Cost Avoidance of Pharmacy Students’ Patient Care Activities During Advanced Pharmacy Practice ExperiencesAmerican Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 2013
- Clinical benefits and economic impact of post-surgical care provided by pharmacists in a Canadian hospitalInternational Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 2013
- Polypharmacy in elderly patients with cancer: clinical implications and managementThe Lancet Oncology, 2011
- Gauging the clinical significance of P‐glycoprotein‐mediated herb‐drug interactions: Comparative effects of St. John's wort, Echinacea, clarithromycin, and rifampin on digoxin pharmacokineticsMolecular Nutrition & Food Research, 2008
- The effect of echinacea (Echinacea purpurea root) on cytochrome P450 activity in vivoClinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2004
- The Costs of Adverse Drug Events in Hospitalized PatientsJAMA, 1997
- Extracts from two frequently consumed spices — Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) — Inhibit platelet aggregation and alter eicosanoid biosynthesis in human blood plateletsProstaglandins, Leukotrienes & Essential Fatty Acids, 1989