Early-stage experiences of the implementation of a large-scale robotic storage and distribution system in a hospital pharmacy service within a large UK health authority
Pdf
European Statement
Selection, Procurement and Distribution
BARCODESCANNING IN THE PHARMACY FOR A SAFER THERAPY
Pdf
European Statement
Selection, Procurement and Distribution
Why was it done?
Medication errors find their origin mostly in prescribing, transcribing and administration of medication. Only 4 % of the errors occurs in the pharmacy process. As we covered the major reasons by deployment of a electronic prescribing system with decision support and bedside scanning before administration the next step in augmenting patient safety is preventing dispension errors in the pharmacy.
What was done?
All medication orders from the electronic prescribing system are revised by a hospital pharmacist for appropriateness and send to a set of handheld barcode scanners for guiding the pharmacy technicians through the picking process. They identify themselves, the ship label, the picking location and the medication by scanning. The scanner checks if the right drugs are dispensed for the right patient.
How was it done?
Due to bedside scanning all orders are electronically available and all medication have barcodes on the single dose. All locations are barcoded for reasons of replenishment of stock. By simply sending the orders to handheld terminals it’s a small effort to verify the picking.
What has been achieved?
All electronic medication orders are checked by barcode scanning or a second hospital pharmacist resulting in a diminishment of picking errors to (nearly) zero. We can show an online status of the medication order to nurses and physicians and we shifted pharmacist time from checking drugs to checking appropriateness of therapy.
What next?
In a next step we will also check retour medication by barcode scanning preventing possible misplacement.
PRESCRIPTION-DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR WOUND DRESSINGS
Pdf
European Statement
Selection, Procurement and Distribution
Author(s)
A. Navarro-Ruiz, F.J. Rodriguez Lucena, C. Matoses-Chirivella, A.C. Murcia-López
Why was it done?
Ulcers imply a lower quality of life for patients and caregivers, and are considered a negative indicator of healthcare quality with increased costs. Global spending on wound dressings from our hospital in 2010 was 600,000 euro, for an estimated population of 300,000 habitants.In the Pharmacy Department there exists wide experience with the Unit Dose Drugs Distribution System (UDDDS) with decentralized stocks that are greatly reduced. It is for this, so it aims to make a management at our UDDDS of special wound dressings for wound care in hospitalized patients, under the same criteria for selection, adquisition, and clinical and financial management of medicines.
What was done?
To establish a rational and efficient use of medical devices for the prevention and advanced wound care, through a prescription dispensing system of wound dressings in hospitalised patients within the unit dose distribution system of the pharmacy department. Furthermore, to evaluate the effectiveness and continuity of process improvements, and extend it.
How was it done?
The Pharmacy Department, along with hospital nursing staff specialized in treatment of ulcers, developed a prescription-dispensing circuit for wound dressings (April 2012-January 2013). At internal medicine and surgery inpatients, the nursing staff of their hospital units (HU) prescribes dressings in medical orders and refers to our UDDDS where it validates, monitors and verifies the consumer. Dressings included in the project are: Class IIb for wounds to be healed by secondary intention, and Class III incorporating substances that can be considered drugs.
What has been achieved?
The prescription-dispensing dressings with UDDDS access contributes to a more efficient use and management thereof in the treatment of inpatients’ ulcers. Furthermore, the creation of a multidisciplinary group for the selection of health products included in the hospital and the development of protocols and guidelines, promotes continuous training of health personnel and improves the quality of care by standardizing the criteria.
What next?
The developed program is currently established and there is a continuous increase in other hospital clinical areas that benefit from this UDDDS for wound care.