What is the minimum square footage designated for a hospital pharmacy with over 500 beds?

The minimum square footage required for a hospital pharmacy that accommodates over 500 beds is established by relevant regulations to ensure that the pharmacy can adequately meet the needs of patient care while maintaining proper standards for safety and efficiency.

In this context, a hospital pharmacy serving a large number of patients requires sufficient space for various essential functions, including medication storage, preparation, compounding, and dispensing. The requirement of 1500 square feet allows for adequate workflow, employee movement, and the inclusion of necessary equipment and storage solutions. This larger footprint is particularly important in a high-volume setting where the variety of pharmaceuticals needs to be managed efficiently and safely.

The other options do not meet this standard, as they allocate less space than what is deemed necessary for the proper operation of a hospital pharmacy in a facility with such a substantial capacity. Smaller pharmacies may hinder operational efficiency and compromise patient care due to constraints on space for medication management activities. Thus, the choice of 1500 square feet aligns with best practices and regulatory expectations for hospital pharmacies of this size.