Considering pharmacy workflow in the context of Australian community pharmacy: A pilot time and motion study

Abstract

Pharmacies are dynamic environments with the average task taking 1-2 min. Longer interventions may not be easily integrated into current pharmacy workflow.

Community pharmacist workflow: Space for Pharmacy-based Interventions and Consultation TimE study protocol

“…This research follows a feasibility study that reported pharmacists’ workflow observations over a period of 35 h within three Australian community pharmacies. [ 38 ] We are now seeking to extend this to improve the robustness and generalisability of results, investigate whether or not pharmacy location or type of pharmacy impacts on workflow and also extend the data collection to include spatial mapping of the pharmacy tenancy area (floor space within the pharmacy).…”

“…[ 53,54 ] Data will be collected across four dimensions: (1) What (the task being observed); (2) Where (the location where the observed task is being undertaken); (3) With (the person/people with the pharmacist at the time the observed task is being undertaken); and (4) How (how the task is being completed, for example, using a phone). [ 38,55 ] A time log of the data will be automatically recorded by the software. Interruptions, defined as stopping the current task to respond to an external stimulus and multitasking, defined as performing two tasks simultaneously, will also be recorded.…”

“…[ 19 ] However, little is still known about workflows within Australian community pharmacies and of the impact of the community pharmacy workspace on various parameters such as professional practice. [ 38 ]…”

Modelling Reliability and Efficiency of English Community Pharmacy Processes

“…This section of the paper details the key features of the CPN model, which is later optimised to produce a set of optimal pharmacy configurations. The main stages of the dispensing process are shown in Figure 1 [7]. Figure 1 describes the typical journey of a prescription through a community pharmacy.…”

“…To enhance the model outlined in Section 2, duration data for 6 stages of the dispensing process was collected from 4 UK community pharmacies, and then incorporated into the CPN model. There have been previous attempts to time the dispensing process, but the data has been unsuitable for use in this model because samples sizes were small [4], or the stages of dispensing were not timed individually [7]. Table 2 displays the key characteristics of the pharmacies included in the study.…”