중환자실 임상약사의 약물 중재 활동이 의료비용에 미치는 영향 = Economic Impact of Clinical Pharmacist Interventions in an Adult Intensive Care Unit

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Background : Clinical pharmacists are vital members of the multidisciplinary team in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, the economic impact of their contributions has not been quantitatively assessed in Korea. This study aimed to categorize the interventions made by clinical pharmacists in the ICU and measure the cost savings resulting from accepted interventions.
Methods : We conducted a retrospective observational study in the respiratory ICU of Pusan National University Hospital from January to June 2025. All documented interventions led by pharmacists were classified into six categories. The economic value of these interventions was determined using a previously published framework to estimate associated cost savings. The benefit-to-cost ratio was calculated by comparing total cost savings to the pharmacist’s salary for the time spent on ICU duties.
Results : During the six-month study period, the clinical pharmacist made 273 interventions for 66 patients, achieving an acceptance rate of 98.5%. The most common drug-related issue was inappropriate dosage, with anti-infective agents being the most frequently addressed medication. The pharmacist-led interventions were categorized as follows: adverse drug event prevention, which saved $70,950 (52.1%); resource utilization, which saved $1,322 (1.0%); individualization of patient care, which saved $55,017 (40.4%); prophylaxis, which saved $314 (0.2%); hands-on care, which saved $1,721 (1.3%); and administrative and supportive tasks, which saved $6,800 (5.0%). The total estimated cost savings from accepted interventions amounted to $136,124, resulting in a benefit-to-cost ratio of 9.0:1.
Conclusion : Involving a clinical pharmacist in the care of critically ill patients can lead to significant healthcare cost savings. This study demonstrates that including clinical pharmacists in multidisciplinary teams provides economic benefits, supporting the expansion of their services in critical care settings.