These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Comparison of a hybrid medication distribution system to simulated decentralized distribution models.
    Author: Gray JP, Ludwig B, Temple J, Melby M, Rough S.
    Journal: Am J Health Syst Pharm; 2013 Aug 01; 70(15):1322-35. PubMed ID: 23867489.
    Abstract:
    PURPOSE: The results of a study to estimate the human resource and cost implications of changing the medication distribution model at a large medical center are presented. METHODS: A two-part study was conducted to evaluate alternatives to the hospital's existing hybrid distribution model (64% of doses dispensed via cart fill and 36% via automated dispensing cabinets [ADCs]). An assessment of nurse, pharmacist, and pharmacy technician workloads within the hybrid system was performed through direct observation, with time standards calculated for each dispensing task; similar time studies were conducted at a comparator hospital with a decentralized medication distribution system involving greater use of ADCs. The time study data were then used in simulation modeling of alternative distribution scenarios: one involving no use of cart fill, one involving no use of ADCs, and one heavily dependent on ADC dispensing (89% via ADC and 11% via cart fill). RESULTS: Simulation of the base-case and alternative scenarios indicated that as the modeled percentage of doses dispensed from ADCs rose, the calculated pharmacy technician labor requirements decreased, with a proportionately greater increase in the nursing staff workload. Given that nurses are a higher-cost resource than pharmacy technicians, the projected human resource opportunity cost of transitioning from the hybrid system to a decentralized system similar to the comparator facility's was estimated at $229,691 per annum. CONCLUSION: Based on the simulation results, it was decided that a transition from the existing hybrid medication distribution system to a more ADC-dependent model would result in an unfavorable shift in staff skill mix and corresponding human resource costs at the medical center.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]