DD-007 Implementation of an electronic communication system to decrease deficiencies in requests for additional/missing doses and improve process efficiency
BackgroundSeamless communication of medication requests is a prerequisite for providing safe and effective pharmaceutical care. In our tertiary care hospital (350 beds), scheduled medication doses are ordered, distributed and tracked through CPOE, automated dispensing and electronic IV tracking, res...
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| Published in: | European journal of hospital pharmacy. Science and practice Vol. 23; no. Suppl 1; pp. A107 - A108 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
London
BMJ Publishing Group LTD
01-03-2016
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | BackgroundSeamless communication of medication requests is a prerequisite for providing safe and effective pharmaceutical care. In our tertiary care hospital (350 beds), scheduled medication doses are ordered, distributed and tracked through CPOE, automated dispensing and electronic IV tracking, respectively. However, an average of 200 requests for additional/missing doses are communicated daily to the pharmacy by fax. This is accompanied by many deficiencies, such as faxes not received, illegible order information and unclear patient demographics.PurposeThe aim of this study was to reduce the amount of deficient requests for additional/missing doses and improve the overall efficiency of this requesting process.Material and methodsElectronic communication software (E-com, Microsoft Access 2010) was developed and implemented in 18 nursing units by the inpatient pharmacy in collaboration with pharmacy IT and nursing. Cumulative data were collected from four nursing units to measure the number of deficient requests and amount of telephone calls. Also, the average time to submit (by the nurse) and review (by the pharmacist) a request was calculated. All measurements were conducted before and after implementation of E-com. Finally, a hospital wide nursing satisfaction survey was performed.ResultsStudy data showed a reduction of 33% (43% vs 10%) in the amount of deficient requests and a reduction of 80% (0.76 vs 0.15 call per request) in the amount of telephone calls. The average time for a request to be submitted (nurse) and reviewed (pharmacist) decreased from 9 min to 2 min and 14 min to 4 min, respectively. The survey revealed that 98% of nurses (n = 50) prefered the electronic process over the fax process.ConclusionImplementation of electronic communication for requesting additional/missing doses has decreased the amount of deficient orders. In addition, the efficiency of the process has improved by a significant decrease in the number of phone calls and average time for submitting and reviewing a request. It is therefore understandable that a majority of our hospital nurses prefer the E-com process to the fax process. However, further study needs to be done on the effect of E-com on medication administration time and prevention of medication errors.References and/or AcknowledgementsWe would like to thank the pharmaceutical care division and nursing administration for their relentless support of this improvement initiative.No conflict of interest. |
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| ISSN: | 2047-9956 2047-9964 |
| DOI: | 10.1136/ejhpharm-2016-000875.242 |