Estimating the Size of an Outpatient Pharmacy

Originally printed in the

SpaceMed Newsletter
Fall 2013
www.spacemed.com

Typical
Pharmacy
Sizes

Outpatient pharmacies, located within a hospital or in an ambulatory care center,

typically fall into one of four categories minimal, small, medium, or large. Most
outpatient pharmacies require one or more dispensing windows, a separate cashier
window, waiting area, consult cubicle, retail display area, fill area, receiving and
breakdown area, bulk storage room, an office/cubicle for the manager, and a staff
toilet room. The primary determinant of an outpatient pharmacys size is the
average number of daily prescriptions (scripts) that will be filled during the busiest
eight-hour shift. This generally determines the numbers and sizes of rooms or
areas and overall gross square feet. It should be noted that the size of the retail
display area can vary significantly from the averages indicated in the comments
column below.
Number of
Daily
Scripts

Average
Department Gross Square
Feet (DGSF)

Minimal

<100
Daily Scripts

500 DGSF

Small

100 to 300
Daily Scripts

900 to 1,500 DGSF

Includes two dispensing windows, a cashier

window, waiting area with four seats, retail
area (80 NSF), consult cubicle, fill area, and
associated support space.

Medium

300 to 500
Daily Scripts

1,600 to 2,200 DGSF

Includes four dispensing windows, a cashier

window, waiting area with eight seats, retail
area (120 NSF), consult cubicle, fill area, and
associated support space.

Large

500+
Daily Scripts

2,300+ DGSF

Includes five dispensing windows, two cashier

windows, waiting area with ten seats, retail
area (180 NSF), consult cubicle, fill area, and
associated support space.

Comments
Includes one dispensing/cashier window, small
waiting with retail shelving, fill area, and
associated support space.

Note: Department gross square feet (DGSF) represents the "footprint" of a department or functional component and
includes the net square feet (NSF) of the individual rooms as well as the space occupied by internal circulation corridors,
walls/partitions, and minor utility shafts; DGSF excludes common areas such as shared public corridors and lobbies,
elevator banks, stairwells, major mechanical spaces, and the space occupied by the building's exterior wall.

Source: SpaceMed Guide.

2013.6.3

Copyright SpaceMed

www.spacemed.com

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