TY - CONF
T1 - The impact of a ward‐based pharmacy technician service in an Irish hospital
AU - Lynch, Emer
AU - O’Flynn, Jennifer Raymy
AU - O' Riordan, Ciara
AU - Bogue, Carmel
AU - Lynch, Deirdre
AU - Mccarthy, Suzanne
AU - Murphy, Kevin
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Introduction or Background (if relevant): Pharmacy technicians have been employed in hospital settings for many years, but only recently have their role been reviewed for potential expansion. Hospitals across Australia, the United Kingdom, and many other countries have implemented a ward‐based pharmacy technician service (1, 2), but this is yet to become common practice in Ireland. At present, there is only one published study on the development of the clinical role of pharmacy technicians in Ireland (3). Aim: The aim of this study was to determine if the expanded role of the ward‐based pharmacy technician role could have a positive impact on medicine management systems within a hospital ward. Methods: This study was carried out over 8 weeks in an Irish hospital. Sixteen wards were studied; four “intervention wards” which have the ward‐based technician service in situ, and 12 “control ward” which currently do not. Medicine management systems were assessed within these wards with respect to (1) the presence of excess non‐ward stock on drug trolleys, (2) the presence of expired medication on drug trolleys, and (3) the time taken by nurses to complete drug rounds. Results: The total cost value of the excess non‐stock items found on the intervention wards was €97.51 (the average cost per ward was €24.38). The total cost value of the excess non‐stock items found on the control wards was €13,767.76 (the average cost per ward was €1,147.31). Eight expired medications were found on the control wards; none were present on intervention wards. The ward‐based technician service reduced the average nursing time to complete drug rounds on a per‐patient basis by 28%. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that the expanded role of the ward‐based pharmacy technician has had a positive impact in several ways; a reduction in the cost of non‐stock items present on the ward along with a reduction in expired stock present. Time taken to complete drug rounds was less on the intervention wards compared to control wards, thus, freeing up time for nurses to engage in other patient activities. Further studies should consider the full economic costing of the ward‐based pharmacy technician service. REFERENCES 1. Soma N, Telford J. Comparing the role of pharmacy technicians in the US and UK. The Pharmaceutical Journal. 31 Aug 2005. 2. Elliott RA, Perera D, O'Leary K. National Survey of clinical pharmacy services and pharmacy technician roles for subacute aged‐care inpatients. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research 2012(42):125–128, 2. 3. O'Byrne J. Tallaght Hospital Pharmacy Ward Based Technician Service eHealth Ireland: HSE; 2015
AB - Introduction or Background (if relevant): Pharmacy technicians have been employed in hospital settings for many years, but only recently have their role been reviewed for potential expansion. Hospitals across Australia, the United Kingdom, and many other countries have implemented a ward‐based pharmacy technician service (1, 2), but this is yet to become common practice in Ireland. At present, there is only one published study on the development of the clinical role of pharmacy technicians in Ireland (3). Aim: The aim of this study was to determine if the expanded role of the ward‐based pharmacy technician role could have a positive impact on medicine management systems within a hospital ward. Methods: This study was carried out over 8 weeks in an Irish hospital. Sixteen wards were studied; four “intervention wards” which have the ward‐based technician service in situ, and 12 “control ward” which currently do not. Medicine management systems were assessed within these wards with respect to (1) the presence of excess non‐ward stock on drug trolleys, (2) the presence of expired medication on drug trolleys, and (3) the time taken by nurses to complete drug rounds. Results: The total cost value of the excess non‐stock items found on the intervention wards was €97.51 (the average cost per ward was €24.38). The total cost value of the excess non‐stock items found on the control wards was €13,767.76 (the average cost per ward was €1,147.31). Eight expired medications were found on the control wards; none were present on intervention wards. The ward‐based technician service reduced the average nursing time to complete drug rounds on a per‐patient basis by 28%. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that the expanded role of the ward‐based pharmacy technician has had a positive impact in several ways; a reduction in the cost of non‐stock items present on the ward along with a reduction in expired stock present. Time taken to complete drug rounds was less on the intervention wards compared to control wards, thus, freeing up time for nurses to engage in other patient activities. Further studies should consider the full economic costing of the ward‐based pharmacy technician service. REFERENCES 1. Soma N, Telford J. Comparing the role of pharmacy technicians in the US and UK. The Pharmaceutical Journal. 31 Aug 2005. 2. Elliott RA, Perera D, O'Leary K. National Survey of clinical pharmacy services and pharmacy technician roles for subacute aged‐care inpatients. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research 2012(42):125–128, 2. 3. O'Byrne J. Tallaght Hospital Pharmacy Ward Based Technician Service eHealth Ireland: HSE; 2015
U2 - 10.1002/pds.4732
DO - 10.1002/pds.4732
M3 - Poster
SP - 12
ER -