Effects of a new sterile product preparation and delivery process on operational efficiency and cost

Abstract

Purpose: Process changes in a hospital pharmacy's batch preparation of sterile products to reduce product and human resource waste are described.

Summary: The pharmacy information system and direct observation were used in the collection of data on the existing i.v. room process, which generated batches of drug products every 12 hours. The daily numbers of doses prepared and doses credited, the percentage of doses credited, the cost of wasted doses, and the number of pharmacy technician hours wasted in the process were recorded. After a change to every-4-hour batch preparation and a modification of the schedule for delivering products to nursing units, data were again collected to determine savings of waste and costs. Fewer doses were prepared daily in the new batch process. The percentage of doses credited daily decreased from 26% to 18%, and pharmacy technician workload decreased by 3.05 hours. The reductions in waste led to a projected annual product cost saving of $122,000 and a workload reduction of 0.5 technician full-time equivalent.

Conclusion: The implementation of a new i.v. room batch process improved operational efficiency by reducing the production of waste and led to a substantial projected annual cost saving.