Impact of connected dispensing technology with advanced analytics in a multicenter health system

This study was designed to evaluate the impact of enterprise inventory optimization (EIO) technology and analytics on pharmacy labor, costs, and medication availability within a large integrated delivery network (IDN).

This article describes a mixed-methods, postmarket observational study assessing the impact of a solution of disparate technologies including automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs), centralized pharmacy inventory software, and controlled substance vaults connected by an inventory optimization analytics (IOA) tool. Four study modules were implemented over a 10-month period. The intervention consisted of implementation of the IOA software, linking the disparate automated technologies. Transactional data was collected and aggregated with user perception survey data in both the pre- and postintervention periods. Descriptive and comparative statistical testing was used to assess outcomes.

A total of 11 facilities with bed counts ranging between 22 and 908 beds were included in this study. At an enterprise level, users were able to complete an average of 2.8 times more periodic automated replenishment (PAR) level changes post intervention, resulting in an estimated enterprise labor avoidance of over 1 full-time equivalent (2,099 labor hours) annually. Despite an enterprise decision to increase ADC inventory on hand from a 3-day supply to a 5-day supply, 5 sites (45%) had a decrease in total inventory, while 9 sites (82%) saw a decrease in ADC inventory costs. Additionally, 7 sites (64%) saw a reduction in the ADC stockout percentage and all 11 sites (100%) saw a decrease in the central pharmacy stockout percentage post intervention.

Integration and optimization of connected inventory management technology was observed to have positive impacts on improving labor productivity, reducing ADC inventory carrying costs, and increasing medication availability.