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

Cavaye, D; Lehnbom, EC; Laba, T-L; El-Boustani, E; Joshi, R; Webster, R

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

Cavaye, D Lehnbom, EC Laba, T-L El-Boustani, E Joshi, R Webster, R

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Res Social Adm Pharm, 2018, 14, (12), pp. 1157-1162
Issue Date:: 2018-12

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Cavaye, D
dc.contributor.author	Lehnbom, EC
dc.contributor.author	Laba, T-L
dc.contributor.author	El-Boustani, E
dc.contributor.author	Joshi, R
dc.contributor.author	Webster, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7444-3037
dc.date.accessioned	2022-09-11T22:04:39Z
dc.date.available	2018-01-03
dc.date.available	2022-09-11T22:04:39Z
dc.date.issued	2018-12
dc.identifier.citation	Res Social Adm Pharm, 2018, 14, (12), pp. 1157-1162
dc.identifier.issn	1551-7411
dc.identifier.issn	1934-8150
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/161706
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Given time pressures on primary care physicians, utilising pharmacists for chronic disease management is of great interest. However, limited data are available on the current workflow in community pharmacies to guide these discussions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the feasibility of collecting workflow data from Australian community pharmacies using the Work Observation Method By Activity Timing (WOMBAT) software and provide preliminary data on Australian pharmacy workflow. METHODS: Data were collected from three pharmacies and four variables were recorded: what the pharmacist did, with whom, where and how. All tasks were timed and data were analysed to identify total number of tasks, median time per task, proportion of time per task, and common task combinations. RESULTS: Pharmacists' main tasks consisted of counselling, dispensing and management activities (27%, 21% and 17% respectively of the overall number of tasks) and these tasks also took the majority of their time. Tasks were frequent but short, with the average time per task ranging from 0.55 to 8.46 min and most time was spent in areas without the capacity for patient interaction (51% in the dispensing/compounding area and 6% in the back office). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacies are dynamic environments with the average task taking 1-2 min. Longer interventions may not be easily integrated into current pharmacy workflow.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1125044
dc.relation.ispartof	Res Social Adm Pharm
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.sapharm.2018.01.003
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1117 Public Health and Health Services
dc.subject.classification	Pharmacology & Pharmacy
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Community Pharmacy Services
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Pharmacists
dc.subject.mesh	Pilot Projects
dc.subject.mesh	Professional Role
dc.subject.mesh	Time and Motion Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Workflow
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Pilot Projects
dc.subject.mesh	Professional Role
dc.subject.mesh	Time and Motion Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Pharmacists
dc.subject.mesh	Community Pharmacy Services
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Workflow
dc.title	Considering pharmacy workflow in the context of Australian community pharmacy: A pilot time and motion study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	14
utslib.location.activity	United States
utslib.for	1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHERE - Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-09-11T22:04:37Z
pubs.issue	12
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	14
utslib.citation.issue	12

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Given time pressures on primary care physicians, utilising pharmacists for chronic disease management is of great interest. However, limited data are available on the current workflow in community pharmacies to guide these discussions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the feasibility of collecting workflow data from Australian community pharmacies using the Work Observation Method By Activity Timing (WOMBAT) software and provide preliminary data on Australian pharmacy workflow. METHODS: Data were collected from three pharmacies and four variables were recorded: what the pharmacist did, with whom, where and how. All tasks were timed and data were analysed to identify total number of tasks, median time per task, proportion of time per task, and common task combinations. RESULTS: Pharmacists' main tasks consisted of counselling, dispensing and management activities (27%, 21% and 17% respectively of the overall number of tasks) and these tasks also took the majority of their time. Tasks were frequent but short, with the average time per task ranging from 0.55 to 8.46 min and most time was spent in areas without the capacity for patient interaction (51% in the dispensing/compounding area and 6% in the back office). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacies are dynamic environments with the average task taking 1-2 min. Longer interventions may not be easily integrated into current pharmacy workflow.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/161706