Implementation of a new method to track propofol in an endoscopy unit

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Health Informatics
• Pharmacy Practice

Background:

• Propofol, a common anesthesia induction agent, lacks consistent tracking due to its accessibility.
• Inconsistent tracking leads to inaccurate inventories, billing errors, and potential drug diversion.
• Current methods fail to account for significant quantities of propofol in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a novel tracking and accounting protocol for propofol.
• To achieve 100% accountability of propofol within a single healthcare setting.
• To improve inventory management, billing accuracy, and reduce drug diversion risks.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase, two-week observational study was conducted in a Gastrointestinal (GI) Endoscopy Unit.
• Data were collected pre- and post-implementation of a new propofol tracking protocol.
• Variables analyzed included inventory, dispensed, administered, returned, billed, wasted, and missing propofol, alongside billing form completion.

Main Results:

• Pre-implementation: 31% of propofol was unaccounted for, and 19.7% of cases lacked billing forms.
• Post-implementation: Unaccounted for propofol decreased, though not statistically significant (P=ns).
• Post-implementation: Missing billing forms significantly decreased from 19.7% to 5.8% (P=0.00).

Conclusions:

• A new propofol tracking protocol demonstrated modest improvements in medication accounting.
• The protocol significantly improved billing form completion, enhancing cost capture.
• Enhanced tracking may improve inventory reconciliation, drug availability, and reduce diversion risks.