Abstract
A safety management system should be established to prevent medication errors in pharmacies. Ain Pharmacy Fushimi introduced several devices in order to decrease the dispensing errors. However, errors originating from the input and the picking processes still remain.
In this study, we report the effect of introducing two automated dispensing devices. One is an optical character reader (named FACE, FACE Co, Ltd Tokyo) and another is a machine specialized in fully automated preparation of press-through package (PTP) tablets seat (trade name “Robo-pick,” Yuyama Co, Ltd Osaka). The incidence rates during the four months before and after the introduction of these systems were compared.
The whole incidence rates decreased from 0.011 to 0.002% (P < 0.001) significantly. The incidence rate related to the input process of prescription data into the receipt-computer decreased from 0.008 to 0.001% (P < 0.001), and the incidence rate related to picking mistake decreased by half, from 0.002 to 0.001% (P = 0.006).
The study showed that the introduction of the two devices significantly reduced the number of incidents occurring during the dispensing process. The reduction of incidents or accidents by introducing automated dispensing devices may allow pharmacists to concentrate more on checking prescriptions and consultation on the medication for patients, where their professional expertise is most required.
