Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jul 1;25(1):854.
doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12981-6.

Analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of technology transformation through the introduction of ADC in the Emergency Department: a Taiwanese case study

Valerio Brescia #  1   2   3 , Yafang Tsai #  4 , Sue-Ting Chung  5   6 , Cheng-Chieh Lin  7 , Federico Chmet  8 , Ginevra Degregori  8 , Ying-Chun Lai  9
Affiliations

Analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of technology transformation through the introduction of ADC in the Emergency Department: a Taiwanese case study

Valerio Brescia et al. BMC Health Serv Res. .

Abstract

Background: This study evaluates the impact of Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs) on workflow efficiency, cost savings, and medication therapy management in the Emergency Department of a Taiwanese regional hospital. ADCs are a key technology in healthcare, aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of medication management processes.

Method: Data were collected from the hospital’s information system, comparing one year before and one year after the ADC implementation. The study focused on the Emergency Department of Dajia Hospital and included a comparison with Shalu Hospital. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurses and pharmacists to gather qualitative insights.

Results: The implementation of ADCs significantly improved workflow efficiency by reducing the time required for drug preparation and administration, leading to an average time savings of 25.68 min per patient. Cost savings were realized through a 10.99% reduction in nursing activity costs, amounting to $83,326.25 annually. The ADCs also enhanced medication therapy management by improving drug tracking and availability. However, challenges such as manual errors in medication dispensing and system limitations were identified.

Conclusions: ADCs improve operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness in Emergency Departments, reducing healthcare professionals’ workload and enhancing medication management. Despite these benefits, ongoing training and system optimization are necessary to address remaining challenges and enhance overall performance.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-025-12981-6.

Keywords: ADC; Cost-effectiveness; Cost-efficiency; Emergency department; Healthcare organization.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Institutional Review Board of Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taiwan. The clinical trial code is CS2-24142. All participants provided written informed consent before participation. All responses were anonymous, and the respondents and researchers were not acquainted. Privacy and anonymity were maintained because names were not used in the data collection forms. Relevant guidelines and regulations were followed for all the methods. All information obtained from participants kept confidential by not asking about their personal details. Moreover, all participants were freely able to withdraw from the study at any time without any penalties. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of average time for drug administration activities across ADC implementation. Sources: Authors’ elaboration
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Visual representation of monthly changes in nursing costs (USD). Sources: Authors’ elaboration
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Biancone P, Secinaro S, Marseglia R, Calandra D. E-health for the future. Managerial perspectives using a multiple case study approach. Technovation. 2023;120:102406.
    1. Buaka ESD, Moid MZI. AI and medical imaging technology: evolution, impacts, and economic insights. J Technol Transf. 2024. 10.1007/s10961-024-10100-x.
    1. Amoroso S, Diodato D, Hall BH, Moncada-Paternò-Castello P. Technological relatedness and industrial transformation: introduction to the special issue. J Technol Transf. 2023;48:469–75.
    1. Walczyk T, Hill JD, Gill C, Hurowitz L, Stimler D, Flax G, et al. A comparison of inventory management models in automated dispensing cabinets at a large academic medical center. Hosp Pharm. 2024;59:318–23. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Dow J, Brummond P, Cesarz J, Ludwig B, Rough S. Evaluation of the impact of computerized prescriber order entry on medication use system performance at an academic medical center. Hosp Pharm. 2012;47:776–82.