Drug errors are dangerous.  Quotas are dangerous.  Distractions are dangerous.  Yet, distractions as part of regular workflow and quota systems are found in most pharmacies.  Why?  Because the financial bottom line, not patient safety, motivates most corporate decisions.  Nothing about this is new.  What is new is the volume.

The volume of medications available on the market, the volume of patients per pharmacy, the volume of DUR issues that must be reviewed and mitigated have all increased drastically in the past 10-20 years.  Add this increased volume to the idea that most staffing decisions are based on financial reviews done by non-health care trained individuals and we find ourselves in the current dangerous situation; those who have the training and desire to prevent drug errors are not afforded the proper time and focus to do so.  

It is far past time for our regulatory institutions to step in and create formal guidelines for safe staffing practices and working conditions that promote safe patient outcomes within our pharmacies.  I firmly support these newly drafted regulations.