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Activity analysis of pharmacy-directed drug-administration technicians
American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
|July 1, 1986
Summary
Drug administration technicians spent most of their time on drug administration tasks (40.4%). A work-sampling technique effectively quantified technician activities, including drug administration, clerical, communication, and other tasks.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Pharmacy Practice
- Workforce Analysis
Background:
- Optimizing healthcare workflows is crucial for efficiency and patient care.
- Understanding time allocation for pharmacy technicians is essential for resource management.
- Previous studies have not comprehensively quantified drug administration technician activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the time drug administration technicians spend on various predefined activities.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of work-sampling techniques in this context.
Main Methods:
- A work-sampling technique was employed over 20 days within a one-month period.
- Two pharmacists conducted random observations during work shifts.
- Activities were categorized into drug administration, clerical, communication, and 'other' (24 elements).
Main Results:
- Drug administration and related activities consumed the largest portion of technician time (40.4% +/- 2.5%).
- 'Other' activities accounted for 24.1% +/- 2.2%, communication for 17.9% +/- 2.0%, and clerical tasks for 17.6% +/- 2.0%.
- Unobserved time (11.6% +/- 1.7%) was attributed to scheduled breaks and lunch.
Conclusions:
- Work-sampling is an effective method for quantifying the activities of drug administration technicians.
- The findings provide valuable data for optimizing technician roles and resource allocation in pharmacy settings.