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Medicine pickup lockers offer patients a new way to pick up medicine prescribed at outpatient clinics

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European Statement

Selection, Procurement and Distribution

Author(s)

Line Jarvig, Louise Konradsen Refsgaard

Why was it done?

The medicine pickup lockers were implemented to offer patients in the outpatient clinics a more flexible and accessible way to receive their medication e.g., 24-hour access close to home.

What was done?

Patients who are receiving medicine free of charge from outpatient clinics traditionally pick up the medication by face-to-face contact with the nurses in the clinic every third month. Patients, who are in remission and already well-informed about their medication are offered to receive their medication in one of seven medicine pickup lockers in the capital region of Denmark. To ensure adherence, safety and optimal outcome of treatment, the healthcare professionals carefully pick out the patients, who are suited for this method. Regular contact between the healthcare professional and the patient is also continued, primarily by using digital contacts through the EPJ-system and by telephone.

How was it done?

The implementation of this new direct-to-patient distribution method was carried out by the Capital Region Hospital Pharmacy in close collaboration with the region’s hospitals and outpatient departments. The implementation requires that the clinical staff rethink their practice and accept that dispensing is no longer their responsibility. Dispensing and distribution of the medication is now handled by pharmacy staff at the hospital pharmacy’s warehouse. From here the medication is transported to the requested location and the patient will receive a text message when the medicine is ready for pickup in the medicine pickup locker.

What has been achieved?

Patients find medicine pickup lockers accessible, safe, and easy to use. Importantly, the quality of medicine dispensing is increased due to hospital pharmacy staff dispensing the medicine rather than nurses. Changing the workflow so that nurses do not dispense medicine also alleviates the shortage of nurses. In addition, this method is without doubt environmentally optimal compared to the traditionally pick up method, since transportation of both patients and the medicine is decreased.

What next?

Next step will be to offer prescription pickups at private pharmacies, which can ensure that patients can pick up their medicine at several different locations around the region and make it possible for the patients to communicate any concerns to a healthcare provider.

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