A exploration of the optimization for dispensing speed of automatic dispensing machine in outpatient pharmacy / 中国医学装备

Objective:To optimize the storage placement of drug in automatic dispensing machine so as to increase the dispensing speed and work efficiency.Methods: The drugs were dispensed on the up and down side of the center of axle wire from high to low according to the dispensed frequency. The application regularity of various drugs was analyzed by using a number of prescription information and the relevant drugs were stored in nearest tank aroundthe drug outlet as the principle of minimum time algorithm. Through optimizing the storage placement of automatic dispensing machine and applying average dispensing time as evaluation index, the change of average dispensing time between before and after 3 months of the optimization of storage placement was analyzed.Results: After the storage placement was optimized, average dispensing time was shortened 2.0s. And the difference of the time between before and after optimization was statistically significant (t=11.92,P<0.05). Conclusion: Through applying minimum time algorithm, the optimized storage placement of automatic dispensing machine shortens the dispensing time of prescription and increases work efficiency.

Continuous Optimization of Drug Storage Position Management in Automatic Dispensing Machine by Or-bital Utilization Rate Algorithm / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the drug storage position management in automatic dispensing machine,and improve the dispensing efficiency. METHODS:The orbital utilization rate of drugs in automatic dispensing machine was calculated,the opti-mum value of orbital utilization rate was set up to adjust the drug varieties and numbers of storage tracks for continually optimizing the storage position management. Dispensing rates of automatic dispensing machines and real-time dispensing windows with fully automated deployment before (Mar.-Jun. 2016) and after (Jul.-Oct. 2016) optimization were statistically analyzed and compared. RESULTS:The optimum value of orbital utilization rate was set up as 67%. Drugs more than the value were increased the num-bers of storage tracks,while drugs less than the value was decreased the numbers of storage tracks or removed out of dispensing machines. From Mar. to Oct. 2016,2 dispensing machines in our hospital adjusted 75 varieties and 127 orbits in total,storage num-bers was increased by 158 boxes. Compared with before optimization (Mar.),dispensing rate of automatic dispensing machines was increased from 73.7% to 81.3% after optimization(Oct.),dispensing rate of real-time dispensing window was increased from 39.8% to 51.8%(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Applying the orbital utilization rate algorithm for adjusting drug variety and track number in machine can effectively and continually optimize the drug storage position,increase the storage capacity in machine, make full use of automatic equipments and improve the dispensing efficiency.

Continuous Optimization of Drug Storage Position Management in Automatic Dispensing Machine by Or-bital Utilization Rate Algorithm / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the drug storage position management in automatic dispensing machine,and improve the dispensing efficiency. METHODS:The orbital utilization rate of drugs in automatic dispensing machine was calculated,the opti-mum value of orbital utilization rate was set up to adjust the drug varieties and numbers of storage tracks for continually optimizing the storage position management. Dispensing rates of automatic dispensing machines and real-time dispensing windows with fully automated deployment before (Mar.-Jun. 2016) and after (Jul.-Oct. 2016) optimization were statistically analyzed and compared. RESULTS:The optimum value of orbital utilization rate was set up as 67%. Drugs more than the value were increased the num-bers of storage tracks,while drugs less than the value was decreased the numbers of storage tracks or removed out of dispensing machines. From Mar. to Oct. 2016,2 dispensing machines in our hospital adjusted 75 varieties and 127 orbits in total,storage num-bers was increased by 158 boxes. Compared with before optimization (Mar.),dispensing rate of automatic dispensing machines was increased from 73.7% to 81.3% after optimization(Oct.),dispensing rate of real-time dispensing window was increased from 39.8% to 51.8%(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Applying the orbital utilization rate algorithm for adjusting drug variety and track number in machine can effectively and continually optimize the drug storage position,increase the storage capacity in machine, make full use of automatic equipments and improve the dispensing efficiency.

Process optimization of automatic dispensing machine in outpatient pharmacy / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the automatic dispensing process optimization program in outpatient pharmacy. Automatic dispensing machine integrated drug storage device, HIS and network communication as a whole to improve the drug distribution accuracy and reduce the management cost. The machine emancipated pharmacists from the traditional dispensing mode to provide much more time for pharmaceutical service. METHODS: According to the characteristics of drug use in the outpatient department of our hospital and the hospital information system, a lot of work to be, optimized the automatic dispensing process. RESULTS: After optimization, drug distribution efficiency increased significantly, and the time patient take medicine shorten greatly. CONCLUSION: Automatic dispensing machine could improve the quality of pharmaceutical care and the promotion of information technology in the field of drug dispensing and management. Automatic dispensing machine is the inevitable trend to hospital pharmacy.

Establishment and Continuous Quality Improvement of Outpatient Pharmacy Work Pattern Based on the Application of the Automatic Drug Dispensing Machine / 中国药师

Objective:To provide reference for the pharmacy automation construction in outpatient pharmacy of domestic hospitals. Methods:The work process, application effect and patient satisfaction before and after the use of automatic drug dispensing machine were analyzed and compared by the data collection and questionnaire according to the operation practice of automatic drug dispensing machine in the outpatient pharmacy of our hospital. Results:After using the automatic dispensing machine, the work flow could be op-timized, the comprehensive benefit and the satisfaction of patients could be improved, and the investment return rate was promising. Conclusion:Automatic pharmacy is the direction of modern pharmacy construction, which has a good application prospect.

Practice and Experience of the Application of Automatic Pharmacy System in Outpatient Pharmacy of Our Hospital / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for the construction and development of hospital modernization pharmacy in Chi-na,and to promote the application of pharmacy automation system in hospital. METHODS:By introducing the change of pharma-cy management due to the debugging and application of outpatient pharmacy automation system(rapid dispensing machine,intelli-gent access machine)in our hospital,the problems of automation system and countermeasures were put forward,and the effects of automation system in our hospital were evaluated. RESULTS:With the application of automation system,the pharmacy layout was adjusted,the drugs in the machine was debugged and optimized,the procedure on adding drugs and stocktaking drugs were im-proved,the reasonable scheduling work in outpatient pharmacy was worked,the complete management plan on validity of drugs was established;referring to the problems of automation system,the procedures of adding drugs by rapid dispensing machine and intelligent access machine were formulated as well as related working guide. The adding and delivering drug failure emergency han-dling procedure of rapid dispensing machine,intelligent access machine failure emergency handling procedure were formulated ac-cording to the possible fault of automation system. Related index evaluation showed that automation system was applied and continu-ously improved,which reduced labor intensity(step count of pharmacists adding drug decreased from 5 634.6 steps/day to 4 087.8 steps/day);the work efficiency was improved greatly(the number of prescriptions increased from 226.55 sheets/h to 311.55 sheets/h during rush hours);the work error was reduced(the number of dispensing internal error decreased from 54.75 items/week to 21.50 items/week). CONCLUSIONS:After appling the automation system in outpatient pharmacy,the drug dispensing and staff manage-ment has been standardized,and it become the hospital pharmacy development inevitable trend. But it is suggested to adjust and op-timize the automation system continuously so as to exert its maximal efficacy.

The stability study of vitamin c tablets made by automatic dispensing machine in working mode / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To observe the stability status of vitamin C tablets which are made by the dispensing machine in working mode and try to find out the procedures which may bring some potential hazards in the new modes. METHODS: According to the Pharmacopoeia the procedures were detected and collected data of the Vitamin C Tablets were made by dispensing machine in existing working mode. The data is collected from different aspects, including the color of drug solution, pharmic content, microbial limit from the storage and dispensing process. Then we compare these data with the factory's report and analyse the differences. RESULTS: There is no significant difference between the data we get and the factory's report of vitamin C tablets made by the dispensing machine in working mode, including the color of drug solution, pharmic content and the appearance of tablets. But there is an increasing trend of bacterial colonies in microbial limit tests for the two samples. CONCLUSION: The status of vitamin C tablets made by dispensing machine in working mode is generally stable. The increasing number of bacterial colonies shows that the time when drugs are exposed in the air, the cleanliness of dispensing environment and pharmaceutical package material are the key for drug quality control.

Reasons and Countermeasures of Discrepancy of the Account in Inventory Management of Automatic Oral Single Dose Drug Dispensing Machine / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To explore the reasons and countermeasures of discrepancy of the account in inventory management of automatic single dose drug dispensing machine. METHODS:The discrepancy information of using sub charter in the process of inventory management from Feb. to Jun. 2014(before management)was collected,the causes were analyzed and countermeasures were put forward and carried out;then management results were evaluated via the discrepancy information from Jul. to Nov. 2014 (after management). RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS:For the relative discrepancy factors such as peeling medicine,adding medi-cine and recording information,etc.,which appeared in each link,the management was strengthened in terms of drug,machine and personnel like limiting scattered drug product rules,modifying the machine parameters settings,strengthening the training and testing of machine operators;and deliver inside account discrepancy rate was decreased from 3.34% to 0.79%. Improvement of the relative system with effective countermeasures can reduce the account sub charter discrepancy rate.

Effect Analysis of the Optimization of Initial Drug Placement in the Automated Drug Dispensing Machine by Minimum Time Algorithm / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the drug placement in the automated drug dispensing machine to improve work efficien-cy. METHODS:Based on the principle of the minimum time algorithm,the drug which would be used at a high frequency was placed in the drug storage tank nearest to the drug outlet. Meanwhile,the rule of drug use was drawn from the information on a large number of prescriptions,based on which the drugs correlated with each other were placed in the drug storage tanks that were adjacent. With daily time it takes to add drugs,average time it takes to make up a prescription and the maximum number of drugs stored as the evaluated indexes,the initial drug placement in the automated drug dispensing machine was optimized. The changes in the indexes within 3 months before and after the above-mentioned optimization were statically analyzed. RESULTS:After calculat-ing the three-dimensional sizes of the packages of drugs and the dispensing frequency data of the previous year,354 drugs were se-lected and placed in the nearer or farther storage tanks in the automated dispensing machine according to the dispensing frequency and the correlation among them. After the optimization of the placement,daily time it takes to add drugs reduced by 54 min(218 vs. 165 min)on average,average time it takes to make up a prescription reduced by 8 s(24 vs.16 s)and the maximum number of drugs stored increased by 1 333 boxes(13 113 vs. 14 446 boxes)on average. There was statistical significance in differences(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:The initial drug placement in the automated drug dispensing machine that was optimized by minimum time algorithm has reduced daily time it takes to add drugs and average time it takes to make up a prescription and increased the maximum number of drugs stored and thus improved work efficiency.

Application of Full-Automatic Tablet Dispensing Machine in the Central Pharmacy of Our Hospital / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To provide references for rational application of full-automatic tablet dispensing machine in the inpa-tient pharmacy of the hospital. METHODS:According to the work flow and use of the machine,the errors and problems arising from the use thereof by our hospital were summarized and analyzed,and corresponding improvement measures and solutions were put forward. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS:Common errors in the use of full-automatic tablet dispensing machine included errors for the machine(including in-box drug shortage warnings accounting for 58.61% and abnormal responses to the quantity of in-box drugs accounting for 36.96%),errors caused by human factors(including errors of inputting doctor’s order and errors of pharma-cist’s adding drugs)and errors of material installation and operation. The solutions put forward are as follows as adjusting the tilt angle of the outlet mouth and controlling the quantity of the drugs added to the box to reduce the errors for the machine;two phar-macists’checking doctor’s order in the hospital information system in advance to reduce the errors caused by human factors;carry-ing out operation training for operators to reduce the errors of material installation;designating special personnel to maintain the ma-chine,etc.

The Experience and Understand on Drug Dispensing by Automated Drug Dispensing Machine / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To introduce how to use the automated drug dispensing machine to prepare drugs in single dose and to introduce our experience in the application of this machine. METHODS:The working principe, application context, and the functional advantage of the machine were introduced, and the problems encountered in the use of the machine was analyzed based on our experience, and the prospect of the machine was discussed. RESULTS: The machine enjoys the advantages of raising work efficiency, lowering dispensing error rate and bringing about convenience for patient to use, but it has its limitation in that it proposes higher requirement for software and hardware environment. CONCLUSION: The application of this automatic system will be more widespread with people’s increasing demand on medical care.

Rational Analysis and Evaluation on Hospital's Introduction of Automated Unit-dose Dispensing Machine / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To offer suggestions for domestic hospitals in the introduction of automated unit-dose dispensing equipment.METHODS:The application value and problems arose from the introduction of automated unit-dose dispensing machine were analyzed by summarizing our experience and reviewing literature.RESULTS:The use of automatic machines could avoid drug pollution and cross infection and reduce the incidence of medication errors during drug dispensing and administration.However,its application has also resulted in problems such as additional machine errors more costs and management difficulties.The introduction of the machine should be based on rational demands and proof analysis.Moreover,it is more suitable for the unit-dose dispensing in inpatient dispensary.CONCLUSIONS:Automatic drug dispensing is the trend of development.The application of new equipment can bring new problems as well as challenges,thus it is urgent to explore new management model.

Reducing Running Cost as the Key to Achieve Automation of Drug Dispensing in Hospital Pharmacy / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To facilitate the automatic drug dispensing in hospital pharmacy.METHODS:Full automatic single dose pastill dispensing machine was introduced to hospital central drug dispensing.The running cost was analyzed from two aspects and the feasibility of cutting cost is demonstrated.RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS:The key to achieve automatic drug dispensing in hospital pharmacy is to reduce the running cost to a lowest degree,and the key to lower running cost lie in the omnidirectional controlling of cost,enhancing of performance and reinforcing of the consciousness on cost etc.