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Published on: December 12, 2019
Work activities before and after implementation of an automated dispensing system
R M Guerrero1, N A Nickman, J A Jorgenson
1University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville, USA.
Summary
A pilot study of an automated dispensing system (ADS) found it did not significantly alter nurses' medication-related tasks. However, the ADS increased pharmacists' efficiency and time for clinical activities.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Nursing Informatics
- Pharmacy Practice
Background:
- Automated dispensing systems (ADS) are increasingly implemented in hospitals to manage medications.
- Understanding the impact of ADS on healthcare professionals' work activities is crucial for optimizing workflow and patient care.
- Previous studies have yielded mixed results regarding the effects of ADS on nursing and pharmacy tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a point-of-care automated dispensing system (ADS) on medication-related work activities of nurses and pharmacists.
- To assess changes in the proportion of time spent on medication-related tasks by nurses and health unit coordinators.
- To determine the effect of ADS implementation on the clinical and technical activities of decentralized pharmacists.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study was conducted in a university hospital, implementing a point-of-care ADS on a surgical intensive care unit and a medicine unit.
- A self-reported work-sampling method was used to collect data on work activities for seven days before and seven days after ADS implementation.
- Observations were recorded for nurses, health unit coordinators, and pharmacists, with a total of 13,221 observations.
Main Results:
- The proportion of nurses' work activities related to medications did not change significantly post-ADS implementation on either unit.
- Medication-related activities for health unit coordinators showed non-significant changes, increasing on one unit and decreasing on another.
- Pharmacists supporting the medicine unit experienced a significant increase in clinical activities (36.5% to 49.1%) and overall efficiency.
Conclusions:
- A point-of-care ADS did not significantly alter the proportion of time nurses spent on medication-related activities.
- The implementation of ADS appeared to increase pharmacists' efficiency and provide more time for clinical patient care activities.
- Further research may be needed to explore long-term effects and optimal integration of ADS in different healthcare settings.
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