Enhanced Pharmacy Service Delivery Through a Pharmacy Information System at a Medical Center: A Case Study

A pharmacy information system (PIS) is a crucial tool for preventing errors and enhancing patient safety. This study aims to assess the influence of a PIS on workflow and medication errors (MEs) within the pharmacy department of a medical city in Saudi Arabia. The analysis encompasses an evaluation of the current workflow within pharmacy modules (in-patient, out-patient, and clinical pharmacy modules) and an exploration of associated challenges and inefficiencies.

The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, incorporating structured interview techniques and the review of system records, such as logs, incident reports, and ME databases.

Respondents recognized the benefits of the PIS, including the management of high-quality real-time data (26%), reduction of MEs (25%), acceleration of healthcare practices (23%), and absence of space-time constraints (14%). The study highlighted the role of PIS in addressing medication stock control and shortage issues, thereby improving overall medication availability. Furthermore, PIS significantly enhanced safety (93.3%), efficiency (80%), reliability, accuracy, ease of use (56.7%, 56.7%), and cost-effectiveness (53.7%). Following the implementation of the PIS, there was an increase in ME reporting, indicating improved error detection and management.

The research revealed an increase in ME reporting rates in hospitals after PIS installation, attributed to improved medication management processes resulting in higher detection rates. As healthcare facilities increasingly embrace electronic medical records, the understanding of patient care quality will be significantly impacted. Consequently, further research is warranted to explore the role of PIS in reporting, detecting, analyzing, and mitigating MEs, as well as their influence on the work environment to promote a secure and efficient patient journey.