Comprehensive workflow evaluation to improve medication distribution to the emergency department in an academic medical center

Abstract Purpose The fast-paced environment of the emergency department (ED), with frequent admissions, discharges, and transfers, poses a challenge for pharmacy departments to effectively distribute and store medications. The purpose of this study is to propose a unique workflow of patient-specific medication delivery to the ED from a hospital pharmacy to reduce the number of missing medications resulting in medication messages and redispenses. Methods The medication delivery workflow proposed in this study consists of batching the preparation and distribution of patient-specific medications sent from the pharmacy to the ED in the 1 to 2 hours prior to their administration time. Chi-square analysis was completed to compare medication redispenses and “missing medication” messages before and after the intervention, with the significance level set at P < 0.05. Results The percentage of redispensed medications was effectively decreased following implementation of the workflow change from 21.6% to 9.2% (P < 0.001), with unit doses having the greatest reduction (25.8% vs 6.1%, P < 0.001). Benefits of this workflow change were also illustrated through a reduction in the percentage of missing-medication messages sent by nursing staff from 97.7% to 93.9% (P < 0.001). Conclusion This study showed that implementation of standard, hourly batches of medications dispensed from the pharmacy to the ED resulted in a significant reduction in the total percentage of redispensed medications and missing-medication messages. The overall reduction in redispensed medications as a result of this innovative workflow change not only benefited nursing and pharmacy staff but can reduce medication waste and improve patient care through timely administration of medications.