Researchers analyzed 100 consecutive days of workload and patient-care data from 213 pharmacists at 64 hospitals, covering more than 28,000 patients and including information on illness severity and outcomes.

The University of Georgia-led study found that ICU patients who spent even one day without pharmacist care were 20% more likely to die.

Risk also rose with workload: patients were 10% more likely to die when pharmacists cared for more than 15 patients, and each additional patient was associated with a 1% increase in the odds of death.

Critical-care pharmacists help reduce medication-related risks by checking for drug interactions, adjusting doses and considering alternative treatments; the article notes that nearly 80% of serious medical errors involve medications.

Led by Susan E. Smith and published in CHEST in 2026, the study found associations between pharmacist coverage, workload and mortality, but did not establish that these factors directly caused deaths.

The researchers said the findings build on earlier evidence of ICU pharmacists’ benefits by suggesting coverage is needed every day of the year, including weekends and overnight periods.

About one-third of hospitals reportedly lack critical-care pharmacists, while many others provide coverage only on weekdays or during daytime hours; the authors argue that staffing costs should be weighed against potential savings from shorter stays and less reliance on costly life-sustaining care.

The study was published in CHEST Journal and included researchers from several universities and hospitals.