Artificial intelligence-based internet hospital pharmacy services in China: Perspective based on a case study.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Internet hospitals in China offer convenience and cost savings, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Current manual pharmacy operations in internet hospitals are inefficient and pose risks.
• Enhanced pharmacy services are crucial for improving patient satisfaction in online healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based pharmacy service model for internet hospitals.
• To offer novel insights into optimizing pharmacy services within internet hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To address the limitations of manual operations in existing internet hospital pharmacy systems.

Main Methods:

• Formulated and embedded AI-driven prescription review rules into the internet hospital system.
• Implemented a "medicine pick-up code" (Quick Response [QR] code) for streamlined offline medication collection.
• Integrated an AI-based medication consultation function for immediate patient support.

Main Results:

• The AI system achieved an 83.65% qualified prescription preview rate, with interventions for inappropriate prescriptions.
• 86% of patients preferred the "offline self-pick-up" option, utilizing the QR code system effectively.
• AI-assisted medication consultations handled 426 cases, with 48.83% occurring outside standard working hours, addressing dispensing, diagnosis, and education queries.

Conclusions:

• The developed AI-based internet hospital pharmacy service model offers a valuable reference for pharmacy departments, especially during health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
• This AI integration ensures the safe and rational use of medications.
• The AI model significantly enhances pharmacist working efficiency and patient satisfaction.