Drug Topics recently released their Business Outlook Survey, which reveals that pharmacists in all settings see a positive year ahead in 2010. Over 800 readers were surveyed, including 246 hospital pharmacists.

The following hospital-based pharmacist statistics regarding pharmacy outlook in 2010 are pulled from the Drug Topics survey:

• 49% expect that their drug budgets will increase
• 40% expect pharmacists' salaries in their department to increase
• 37% of the pharmacists who responded work in hospitals that have a computerized physician order-entry (CPOE) system, 38% said their hospital plans to install a CPOE in 2010
• 38% of respondents' hospitals have a bedside bar-coding system, 39% said their hospital plans to install bedside bar-coding in 2010
• 61% of those surveyed work in hospitals that use EHRs

All pharmacists surveyed felt that the nationwide shortage of pharmacists still exists. Over 51% of hospital-based pharmacists responded that there is a shortage in their state, 10% of those surveyed said that the shortage is severe. However, there are signs that the shortage is easing and the projected outlook in pharmacy over all is positive.

Source: Rajecki, Ron. "Drug Topics' 2010 business outlook survey" Drug Topics. 11 December 2009. drugtopics.modernmedicine.com