Decreasing Waiting Time for Outpatient Chronic Prescriptions Pickup Using Drive through 24/7 Automated Dispensing Carousel System at King Salman Military Hospital (KSAFH)

Abstract

Extended waiting periods have an effect on healthcare accessibility and delivery. The main purpose of drive through 24/7 automated dispensing carousel system is reducing the necessity for patient to visit the hospital to dispense his/her chronic medications, increasing patient's convenience and relieving congested parking spaces in the hospital. Several methods have been implemented in other countries to reduce patient waiting time. Some of which include automated dispensing system, staff scheduling plan, postal-delivery prescription, and redesign of pharmacy workflow [1-4]. In SAUDI ARABIA, one of the methods adopted was implementation of drive through 24/7 automated dispensing carousel system (DAD). DAD was developed to make patients' chronic prescription pickups easier. The hospital has implemented Capsa Healthcare’s RoboWall as a drive-through model for the first time in the global market at King Salman Armed Forces Hospital (KSAFH) to facilitate the convenient delivery of prescription drugs to patients. DAD is a collection of innovative dispensing systems that offers patients new concepts for dispensing their prescription. Pharmacy tech workstations generally have barcode-driven internal workstations, flat screen displays facing patients, Robowall software, and SMS (text messaging) modules. This project will assess were to (1) assess the effectiveness of drive through 24/7 automated dispensing carousel system in improving waiting time for outpatient chronic prescriptions pickup and determine the feasibility of this system in a busy tertiary military hospital. Data will be extracted from routinely queuing system, hospital information systems, and patient experience. The aim of this study will focus on and explore the current practice and its barriers to waiting time for outpatient chronic prescriptions pickup. Where possible, generalize the study to other military hospitals among the Ministry of Defense and other health care providers at Saudi Arabia.