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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NOA-DIGITAL APPLICATION IN THE OPHTHALMOLOGY CIRCUIT: WHAT IS THE IMPACT?

European Statement

Patient Safety and Quality Assurance

Author(s)

Catarina Diogo, Rui Caceiro, Catarina Canário, Sónia Camões, Sofia Bastos, Cláudia Silva, Maria Helena Duarte, Armando Alcobia

Why was it done?

To improve the medication circuit in Ophthalmology at our hospital—which has grown exponentially and was largely paper-based, and prone to errors—a digital application called NOA-Digital was developed in 2023.

What was done?

Assess the impact of implementing the NOA-Digital application.

How was it done?

A retrospective comparative study was done. Data was collected through the application and Excel files between June and August 2024 and the corresponding period of the previous year.

What has been achieved?

The use of the application eliminated paper prescriptions and their transcription to Excel files, which previously generated a document with over 120,000 fields filled by the pharmacist annually. In a total sample of 701 patients, 1,384 prescriptions were entered into the application, and 1,800 injections were prepared. The implementation of the application reduced by 80% the time pharmacists spent on administrative tasks. This was achieved through the automation and centralization of processes and easy access to information. The optimization of the workflow facilitated the inclusion and monitoring of more patients, leading to increased production. Additionally, it improved the pharmacist’s organization and availability, allowing for the refinement of production techniques, which optimized vial usage and generated savings (€27,058.50 – about 13%). The application also eliminated common errors from the previous system – incomplete and duplicate prescriptions – and provided access to previously unrecorded information.

What next?

The implementation of the NOA-Digital application proved to be an effective solution for improving the ophthalmic medication circuit, promoting greater safety, efficiency, and quality while contributing to cost reduction. Continued monitoring and analysis of its use is recommended to identify additional improvement opportunities and assess its adaptability for implementation in other pharmaceutical services.

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