Reduction of Drug Dispensing Time for Out-patients at Somdetphraphutthalertla Hospital

Abstract

This research project aimed to improve out-patient pharmacy service at the Somdetphraphutthalertla Hospital, Samutsongkram Province, specifically to reduce the time spent in dispensing prescription drugs for out-patients. Focus group discussions were conducted with twenty-one staff in charge of dispensing drugs for out-patients resulting in new efficiency guidelines that were implemented and results evaluated for the period between September 2014 and February 2015. Comparing 1,558 prescriptions before the efficiency measures were implemented and 1,553 prescriptions after the implementation, it was found that the out-patients’ average waiting time was cut down from 31.32±9.60 minutes to 26.79±9.89 minutes (p<0.05). The total time used per element of prescription task was also reduced from 8.24±4.60 minutes to 6.78±5.18 minutes, as was the total time lapse between elements which came down from 23.08±9.37 minutes to 20.01±3.29 minutes (p<0.05). In summary, the implementation of efficiency measures in the out-patient drug dispensing service could reduce the average waiting time due to a reallocation of the practitioners’ role, redesigning of the work area and equipment, improving the computer programmes that facilitated the drug dispensing process.