Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service II (Projects aiming to enhance clinical safety and outcomes, clinical governance / risk management)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service I (Projects aiming to improve efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery to meet international standards)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Zheng MSM(1), Yeung SSY(1), Tsoi HHY(1), Cheung ECY(1), Ng PH(1), Wong HSY(1), Mak RWM(1), Chan ACY(1), Chui WCM(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Pharmacy, Queen Mary Hospital
Introduction :
Medication management is a critical aspect of patient care, particularly in high-volume settings such as Surgical and Orthopaedic wards. Inefficient medication management can lead to delays in treatment and bed turnover, increased risk of errors, thus compromising patient safety. To address these challenges, Queen Mary Hospital initiated a service-based pilot study focusing on the deployment of trained ward-based dispensers to streamline medication management at ward level.
Objectives :
1. To assess the impact of Ward-based Dispenser Service on discharge and transfer prescriptions processing time
2. To evaluate nursing staffs’ satisfaction towards Ward-based Dispenser Service in enhancing safety and efficiency of medication management
Methodology :
A service-based pilot study was conducted in one Surgical and one Orthopaedic ward in Queen Mary Hospital from April - June 2023. This study involved deploying trained dispensers to provide medication management services at ward level. The major duties of Ward-based Dispensers include: (1) facilitating the handling of discharge and transfer prescriptions, (2) answering and following-up drug-related technical issues, and (3) facilitating inpatient urgent drug supply in wards.
Service efficiency was measured by comparing the estimated average discharge and transfer prescription processing time with Ward-based Dispenser Service between April-June 2023 with the one without this service between April-June 2022.
Nursing staffs’ satisfaction survey was conducted in September 2023.
Result & Outcome :
For service efficiency, the average prescription processing time with Ward-based Dispenser Service in Surgical Ward (14 minutes) and Orthopaedic Ward (25 minutes) was significantly shorter than that without it. (Surgical Ward: 96 minutes, Orthopaedic Ward: 107 minutes). (p< 0.05)
Regarding nursing staffs’ satisfaction, a total of 23 surveys were collected from the two wards. Our results demonstrated high satisfaction rate towards Ward-based Dispenser Service by nursing staffs, particularly in shortening discharge time (96%), alleviating nursing staff’s workload (78%), and enhancing medication safety (74%). 22 out of 23 respondents (96%) agreed that the service should be maintained and enhanced in long run.
This pilot Ward-based Dispenser Service study showed significant reduction in average discharge and transfer prescription processing time, thus discharge time for patients, with high satisfaction rate by nursing staff in enhancing efficiency and safety of medication management in wards.
