Preparation of Anesthetic Agents and Management of Narcotics by an Operating Room Pharmacist：Influence on Turnover Time

Abstract

Shortening turnover time in the operating room is an effective way to increase the number of surgeries. In our hospital, a pharmacist has prepared injections and managed narcotics in the operating room since 2009. This study determined the effect on turnover time of adding a pharmacist to the staff in the operating room. The median turnover time from October-December 2014（pharmacist group）was significantly shorter than from October-December 2008（non-pharmacist group）. Furthermore, in the seven surgical departments tested, median turnover time was shorter in the pharmacist group than in the non-pharmacist group in five departments. Our results demonstrated that the inclusion of pharmacists to the staff in the operating room is effective at shortening turnover time.