Assessment of Pharmacy Management in Teaching Hospitals of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz County, Based on JCI (Joint Commission International) Accreditation Standards for 2023-2024

Abstract

Background: Pharmacy management is a key factor in healthcare, impacting patient safety and treatment outcomes. Evaluating these practices against standards like those from the Joint Commission International (JCI) ensures quality care. Aim: This study aims to assess and quantify the pharmacy management performance in nine teaching hospitals in Tabriz County, across domains such as organization, drug procurement, storage, and monitoring.Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in nine teaching hospitals in Tabriz, Iran. The hospitals evaluated included those specializing in General Medicine, Heart and Vascular care, Neuropsychiatry, Orthopedics, Gynecology, and Ophthalmology. Pharmacy management practices were assessed across several domains: Organization and Management, Drug Ordering and Procurement, Storage, Prescription and Dispensing, Preparation and Distribution, Supervision, and Monitoring. Data were collected through structured evaluations based on JCI accreditation standards.Results: The results indicated significant variation in pharmacy management practices across the hospitals. The highest total score of 60 was achieved by Emam Reza and Alzahra hospitals, specializing in General Medicine and Gynecology, respectively. In contrast, Razi and Nikoukari hospitals, specializing in Neuropsychiatry and Ophthalmology, scored the lowest with 45 points. The other hospitals demonstrated moderate performance, with total scores ranging from 49 to 57 points. These findings suggest differences in the effectiveness of pharmacy management that may be influenced by the hospital's specialty and management practices.Conclusion: The study highlights the variability in pharmacy management practices across different hospital specialties in Tabriz. While some hospitals demonstrated strong performance in line with JCI standards, others showed areas for improvement, particularly in the domains of Organization and Management and Drug Ordering and Procurement. These results underline the importance of targeted interventions to enhance pharmacy management practices in specialized hospital settings.