Optimize Outpatient Pharmacy Service Process: Shorten Waiting Time and Improve Patient Satisfaction

Background: To provide scientific decision-making basis for managers to improve management methods, so about make outpatient pharmacy service flow smoother and more efficient, shorten the waiting time for patients to take medicine and improve patient satisfaction.Methods: Based on the concept of BI, the existing data onto outpatient pharmacy in our hospital were analyzed in depth, and the time distribution rule of prescription dispensing was found. By real-time analysis of the number of patients in the upstream link to the medication withdrawal step, the early warning of the number of patients was realized. Regularity and real-time early warning of the number of medicines users should establish a flexible and efficient scheduling system for pharmacists, so about maximize the use efficiency of human resources in outpatient pharmacies. Mean while, rearranged the medicines shelves according to the relevancy analysis of medicines in the same prescription, to reduce the walking distance of staff.Results: Based on the optimization of outpatient service process of large data, the waiting time for patients to take medicine was shortened from more than 15 minutes to less than 10 minutes, satisfaction increased from less than 65% to more than 85%, and the use of personnel was maximized.Conclusions: Through in-depth analysis and deep excavation of the real-time monitoring of outpatient prescription volume, managers can improve the outpatient service process, and through the monitoring and early warning of outpatient prescription volume, employees can be arranged, which is helpful to realize the digital, refined and intelligent management of the hospital.

FDA collaboration to improve safe use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics: an ex post facto matched control study of targeted short-form messaging and online education served to high prescribers

Objective: This ex post facto matched control study was conducted to evaluate the effect of targeted short-form messages or continuing medical education (CME) on fluoroquinolone prescribing among high prescribers. Methods: A total of 11,774 Medscape healthcare provider (HCP) members prescribing high volumes of fluoroquinolones were randomized into three segments to receive one of three unique targeted short-form messages, each delivered via email, web alerts, and mobile alerts. Some HCPs receiving targeted short-form messages also participated in CME on fluoroquinolone prescribing. A fourth segment of HCPs participated in CME only. Test HCPs were matched to third-party-provider prescriber data to identify control HCPs. We used prescriber data to determine new prescription volume; percentage (%) of HCPs with reduced prescribing; new prescription volume for acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS), uncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI), and acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ABECB-COPD). Open rates for emailed targeted short-form messages were also measured. Results: Targeted short-form messages and CME each resulted in significant new prescription volume reduction versus control. Combining targeted short-form messages with CME yielded the greatest percentage of test HCPs with reduced prescribing (80.1%) versus controls (76.2%; p<0.0001). New prescription volume decreased significantly for uUTI and ABS following exposure to targeted short-form messages, CME, or both. Targeted short-form messages containing comparative prescribing information with or without clinical context were opened at slightly higher rates (10.8% and 10.6%, respectively) than targeted short-form messages containing clinical context alone (9.1%). Conclusions: Targeted short-form messages and CME, alone and in combination, are associated with reduced oral fluoroquinolone prescribing among high prescribers.

T.E.A.M.S.Work: Leveraging Technicians to Enhance ABM Med Sync in Community Pharmacies

The expansion of pharmacy technicians’ roles in community pharmacies allows pharmacists the opportunity to focus on providing clinical services to patients. This study explores the tasks pharmacy technicians’ perform to support Med Sync programs in community pharmacies. Pharmacy staff members at North Carolina pharmacies with more than fifty percent of their prescription volume being dispensed as part of a Med Sync program were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Inductive coding and summary analysis were used to analyze the interview data. Study participants described pharmacy technicians’ roles in identifying patients for marketing and enrollment, reviewing patients’ medications list, choosing alignment dates based on patient preference, contacting patients in preparation for dispensing and, lastly, engaging in pickup or delivery of medications. This study highlights technicians’ vital role in completing tasks that support Med Sync programs in community pharmacies.

Identification of Errors in Pediatric Prescriptions and Interventions to Prevent Errors: A Survey of Community Pharmacists

OBJECTIVES Assess the competency of community pharmacists in identifying errors in pediatric prescriptions and to determine how often pharmacists perform interventions known to mitigate the likelihood of error. The study sought to recognize factors that may impact the pharmacist's ability to identify and mediate these errors, and to detect barriers that limit the role of the pharmacist pediatric patient care. METHODS A survey was distributed through the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy Alumni Network and the Illinois Pharmacists Association email listservs. Pharmacists practicing in a retail setting within the last 5 years were included. Three prescription scenarios for commonly used pediatric medications with corresponding questions were created to assess a pharmacist's ability to identify errors. Demographics pertaining to the pharmacist and the practice site, as well as information about dispensing practices, were collected. Logistic regression was used to identify factors that might impact the pharmacists' ability to identify errors. RESULTS One hundred sixty-one respondents began the survey and 138 met inclusion criteria. In 15% to 59% of scenario-based questions, pharmacists did not appropriately identify errors or interventions that would decrease the likelihood of error. Correct identification of doses was associated with total prescription volume in one scenario and with pediatric prescription volume in another scenario. Pharmacists did not consistently label prescriptions for oral liquids in milliliters or dispense oral syringes. Barriers to pharmacist involvement included availability and interest of the caregiver, ability to contact prescriber, and pharmacy staffing. CONCLUSION Community pharmacists did not consistently identify medication errors or use interventions known to mitigate error risk.

Regional Variation in Pharmacist Perception of the Financial Impact of Medicare Part D

The objective of this study was to perform a nationwide investigation of the financial performance of community pharmacies in the United States since the inception of Medicare Part D. A nationwide, cross-sectional survey of pharmacists was conducted in 2013. The 43-item online survey collected information about demographics, financial implications of Part D on community pharmacy and patients, provision of Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services and opinions about Medicare Part D 2010 updates. The adjusted response rate was 22.3% (419/1885). A majority of respondents (75.6%) reported a stable or increased prescription volume since 2006 but only 40.4% indicated that the financial performance of their pharmacy as either excellent or good during the same period. Owners and part-owners of rural independent pharmacies were more likely to report a below average or poor financial performance (75.0%). The provision of MTM services was not related to the financial performance of the pharmacy. Nearly half (44.7%) of pharmacy owners or part-owners indicated that they were considering selling their pharmacy, with most (94.1%) reporting that their decision to sell was due to the Part D financial pressures. However, the decision to sell was not related to the change in financial performance since 2006 or the volume of prescriptions dispensed.