A successful implementation of a hospital pharmacy computer module.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Hospital Pharmacy Management
• Information Systems in Healthcare

Background:

• The Mississauga Hospital Pharmacy Department initiated the unit dose dispensing component of a new hospital-wide computer system.
• Implementation required dedicated personnel and collaborative efforts to manage the transition effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the process of implementing a unit dose dispensing system within a hospital pharmacy.
• To describe the strategies used for database creation, staff training, and system integration.
• To outline the approach for managing staff concerns and ensuring a successful transition.

Main Methods:

• Formation of a joint management/staff Computer Advisory Committee to guide the implementation.
• Development of a comprehensive training program using a staff-created manual.
• Conducting a one-week parallel run of the computerized and manual systems on two nursing units.
• Phased, step-by-step conversion of the entire hospital system post-parallel run.

Main Results:

• Successful implementation of the unit dose dispensing system's initial phase.
• Established a collaborative committee and developed training materials.
• Identified the need for ongoing procedure formalization and quality assurance programs post-implementation.

Conclusions:

• The implementation of a computerized unit dose dispensing system requires meticulous planning, dedicated resources, and robust staff engagement.
• A phased approach, including parallel system runs and comprehensive training, is crucial for successful integration.
• Ongoing monitoring and quality assurance are essential to optimize the benefits of the new system.