Physicians' and Nurses' Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Managed Heparin Protocol Service

Abstract

A total of 60 physicians and 90 nurses in a 300-bed, non-teaching, community-based hospital were surveyed to determine their attitudes and impressions of pharmacists' management of an inpatient, intravenous, unfractionated heparin dosing and monitoring service. Written questionnaires were used to gather their opinions of: (1) the value of having pharmacists provide the heparin protocol service, (2) the effectiveness of having pharmacists provide therapeutic management of thromboembolic disorders, and (3) the effectiveness of communications with pharmacists. Survey response rates were 82% and 53% for nurses and physicians, respectively. For all three service aspects evaluated, responses from nurses were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than physicians. Data from this study strongly support pharmacist-provided therapeutic management of thromboembolic disorders and show that nurses and physicians place a high value on pharmaceutical care services.