Comments on: Pharmacy workflow on life support

By: Rob Fahrni

Rob Fahrni — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:55:10 +0000

Get the CAD drawing. I know a guy that can get you a copy of Visio, you can import the CAD drawing as a background, complete with layer support (at least I hope you still can), then annotate it to your hearts content.

By: Jerry Fahrni

Jerry Fahrni — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:56:15 +0000

Hey pillguy, it’s been a while. I agree with your assessment completely. I think one of our biggest issues in our pharmacy is a couple of poor decisions during reconstructions. We’ve created some bottlenecks in the department.

I like your recommendation about a CAD program. I’ve already been roaming the pharmacy trying to figure out what will work and what won’t. It’s not as easy as I thought it would be, that’s for certain.

Thanks for the thought. Talk with you soon.

By: pillguy

pillguy — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:13:06 +0000

Jerry you have to go back to the root of the problem. Most likely your issues surround the roles each person plays in daily operations, how they move through the pharmacy, and the original design. Most of the time we just “make room” for automation somewhere in the Inpatient Pharmacy. Ambulatory environments seem to do a much better job of attending the workflow issue, so you might look at some of the busier outpatient pharmacies to get some ideas.

Order Entry, Order Verification, faxing, phone calls, clinical duties, restocking, inventory management with ADCs, receiving, product preparation and storage, product checking and packaging for sending to floors. I am sure you can think of a few more.

Get a CAD drawing of the pharmacy space, and if you have the electronic means start putting your equipment and people in places. FIgure out how to get things to flow without breaks in the process. I have done this a number of times in the ambulatory arena, but have yet to attempt it for inpatient. You the man!

By: Jerry Fahrni

Jerry Fahrni — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:26:50 +0000

Good idea, already started looking at it. Know any “easy” ways to create a computer generated 3D model?

By: Rob Fahrni

Rob Fahrni — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:10:28 +0000

Well, based on what happened during your tour you must have some idea of how it should change, right? Start there and iterate. Work with folks at all levels in the process, it should turn up some interesting ideas.

By: Jerry Fahrni

Jerry Fahrni — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:43:20 +0000

We talked a little about future possibilities and Rx Innovate a bit. Workflows are tough because of all the differences among healthcare systems. Know what I’m sayin’?

By: carlac

carlac — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:42:14 +0000

Hmmm, sounds like your “friend from talyst” should be able to point you toward some workflows. Just sayin’

By: Jerry Fahrni

Jerry Fahrni — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:56:16 +0000

I suppose that would work. The biggest problem is I don’t really know how to design a good workflow; never had to do it. That’s what started the search in the first place. Retail pharmacies do it all the time, but apparently hospital pharmacies don’t. Go figure.

By: Rob Fahrni

Rob Fahrni — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:38:05 +0000

Wow, I think it’s time for you to take the bull by the horns, as they say, create a workflow, and publish it.

Right?