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SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF A SHARED INFORMATION DATABASE FOR HOSPITAL PHARMACIES IN DENMARK – BENEFITING FROM AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT (submitted in 2019)
European Statement
Clinical Pharmacy Services
Author(s)
Stine Ulsø, Hilde Omestad, Susanne Weng Rømer, Sisse Emilie Mejsner, Mads Nielsen, Jesper Heltoft-Christensen
Why was it done?
The existing solution, established in 2001, was running on an insecure platform, the system was expensive to maintain and changes difficult and slow to implement. The need for an update led to a change of supplier, hosting and platform.
What was done?
A new database was developed for documentation and quality assurance of drug related queries received by hospital pharmacies in Denmark. The information in the database is shared across all hospital pharmacies in Denmark and is an important tool for the Medicines Information Centers located there. Existing queries were transferred from the old to the new database.
How was it done?
A working group was established consisting of three pharmacists and superusers from three different hospital pharmacies, one project manager employed by the sponsor (Amgros) and two developers employed by the new supplier (Progressive). The project was structured using monthly physical meetings and ad hoc video conference meetings. The work tasks in the development process were divided and carried out in two-week sprints by the developers and subsequently tested and validated by the pharmacists. All participants agreed to a periodic heavy workload and showed great flexibility. The close and frequent collaboration between all members affected the teamwork in a positive way, hence the group was motivated and managed to agree on common solutions and compromises despite different database usage and different locations.
What has been achieved?
A new, stable and more intuitive database was developed in only 5 months due to the structured and flexible way of working and a close motivated teamwork. The database was taken into use from one day to another and quickly adapted. Since the development several hospital pharmacies have increased their use of the database. The amount of information shared nationally has improved.
What next?
The initiative resulted in a useful tool implemented within a short time. The way of working intensively and focused with physical meetings and video conferences made a good basis to succeed. Especially the sprint cycles can be used in different healthcare settings involving different projects.