Verified Document

Statistical Analysis To Improve Prescription Processes Term Paper

Health Care -- Statistical Thinking in Health Care The HMO pharmacy is inaccurately filling prescriptions. Prescribers blame pharmacy assistants, the assistants blame pharmacists and pharmacists blame prescribers. Analysis of their system show points ripe for change in order to improve accuracy. In addition, there are multiple measures that can be applied to substantially enhance the quality of the HMO pharmacy's work.

Process Map & SIPOC Analysis

Process Map of Prescription Filling Process

Process Map of Prescription Filling Process

Prescriber determines patient needs medication

Prescriber selects medication type

Prescriber selects medication dosage

Prescriber hand-writes prescription

Prescription delivered to pharmacy

Prescription entered into pharmacy computer system by pharmacy assistant

Pharmacist selects medication

Pharmacist measures medication

Pharmacist counsels patient about prescription

Medication delivered to patient

SIPOC Analysis of Business Process

SIPOC Analysis of Business Process

Supplier

Input

Process Steps

Output

Customer

Prescriber

Patient information

Determines need for medication

Determines type of medication

Determines dosage of medication

Hand-writes prescription

Handwritten prescription

Pharmacy Assistant

Pharmacy Assistant

Handwritten prescription

Receives handwritten prescription

Enters prescription information into computer system

Computer-entered prescription information

Pharmacist

Pharmacist

Computer-entered prescription information

Reads computer-entered prescription information

Selects medication

Measures medication

Counsels patient on prescription

Delivers medication to patient

Prescription

Counseling

Patient

3. Main Root Causes of Problems

a. Special Causes

The problem to be addressed is inaccurate prescriptions. The "special causes," those due to external or specific factors (Bright Hub Project Management, n.d.), include prescribers' sloppily handwritten prescriptions and incomplete instructions, pharmacy assistants' erroneous entry of prescriptions into the system and pharmacists' incorrect assumptions about their assistants' knowledge of medical terminology, brand names, known drug interactions, etc.

b....

Common Causes
The "common causes," those inherent in the process (Bright Hub Project Management, n.d.), include communications problems from one supplier to another (here, prescriber to pharmacist assistant to pharmacist to patient). In addition, the prescriber may select the wrong medication and/or dosage, may fail to accurately convey that information to the pharmacy and may not adequately inform the patient about the prescription. Pharmacist assistants may misread prescriptions, commit typing errors and/or guess incorrectly about medical terminology, brand names, known drug interactions, etc. Finally, pharmacists may use the wrong medication and/or dosage and may fail to adequately counsel the patient about the medication.

4. Main Tools and Data Collection

The main tools for solving the HMO pharmacy's problem could be questionnaires sent to prescribers, pharmacist assistants, pharmacists and patients, self-completed records by prescribers, pharmacists' assistants and pharmacists, and focus groups of external observers and simulated patients (Caamano, Ruano, Figueiras, & Gestal-Otero, December 2002). The questionnaires would allow each group of stakeholders to voice their specific concerns about the process and suggested improvements. The self-completed records will allow the analysts to see method and repetition of correct information vs. errors throughout the process. Focus groups of external observers and simulated patients will give an objective assessment of the way the process truly works.

5. Solution and Strategy

In a mythical world with unlimited funds and power, one could solve quite a few transcription errors due to sloppy handwriting by establishing an electronic prescriptions system for all concerned. With e-prescriptions, sloppy handwriting is eliminated, the e-form requests thorough information for completion and patient history is automatically included (DrFirst, Inc., n.d.). In addition, the pharmacy can do its best to ensure the correct entry of prescriptions by using at least 2 patient identifiers as required by JCAHO, and thorough patient information about patient history via the e-prescription and pharmacy records (Nair, Kappil, & Woods, 2010). The pharmacy should also confirm the prescription's correctness and completeness by calling prescribers to clarify any doubts, transcribing the clarification and reading it back to the prescriber to ensure accuracy (Nair, Kappil, & Woods, 2010). The pharmacy should also pay attention to look-alike or sound-alike drugs by placing reminders on stock bottles or in the computer system to remind staff about these common confusions (Nair, Kappil, & Woods, 2010). The pharmacy should also pay special attention to zeroes…

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Bright Hub Project Management. (n.d.). Six Sigma: Network diagram examples. Retrieved April 26, 2015 from www.brighthubpm.com Web site: http://www.brighthubpm.com/six-sigma/25326-dmaic-phase-two-measuring/

Caamano, F., Ruano, A., Figueiras, A., & Gestal-Otero, J. (December 2002). Data collection methods for analyzing the quality of the dispensing in pharmacies. Pharmacy World & Science, 24(6), 217-223.

DrFirst, Inc. (n.d.). Rcopia e-prescribing. Retrieved April 26, 2015 from go.drfirst.com Web site: http://go.drfirst.com/l/8842/2012-08-02/7p276?pi_ad_id={creative}&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=%7Bkeyword%7D

Nair, R.P., Kappil, D., & Woods, T.M. (2010, January 20). 10 strategies for minimizing dispensing errors. Retrieved April 26, 2015 from www.pharmacytimes.com Web site: http://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2010/January2010/P2PDispensingErrors-0110
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

The Significance of Statistical Thinking in Healthcare
Words: 1295 Length: 4 Document Type: Research Paper

Map of Prescription Filling at an HMO and SIPOC for Problem Analysis (Bertrand Filling prescriptions and the estimated time each activity takes consist of four steps in most pharmacies (Bertrand, 2012). The first is entering the prescription when received from two to 10 minutes. It may be longer according to the duration of the billing process and the ease or complicatedness of the prescription. The second is filling the medication,

Future Implications of Improving Health
Words: 4236 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

0, 4.0, and 4.5 percentage points in FYs 1982, 1983, and 1984, respectively, for States whose growth exceeded certain targets, OBRA-81 also reduced eligibility for welfare benefits, thus making it harder for poor families to qualify for Medicaid (Klemm, 2000). The legislation of this era began to weaken this link by specifying eligibility criteria based on income in relation to Federal poverty guidelines. In 1991, spending controls were established, provider

Organizational Change of Northrop Grumann Corporation Analysis
Words: 3496 Length: 13 Document Type: Term Paper

Organizational Change of Northrop Grumann Corporation Analysis of Change Northrop Grumman: Interview in relation to Program Mergers & Acquisitions Comparisons Looking to the Future Organizational Change of Northrop Grumann Corporation Although acquisitions did not prove to improve the performance of firms the activities of acquisition persists and government policy toward the industry of defense has approved consolidation for the purpose of cost savings that are nominal at best. Mergers and acquisitions are events that greatly modify the

Nursing-Sensitive Indicators Produced by Ndqf
Words: 4493 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

The prescriptions include wisdom, honesty, and courage, as well as human dignity, integrity, respect, health, and independence. Part 3: Formulate possible evidence-based practices and an action plan that could work towards achieving improvement outcomes. Provide insight into the diagnostic processes (e.g., root cause analysis) used to determine the primary causes of the problem. Consider both qualitative (cause-effect diagram, barrier analysis), and quantitative (theory testing or drill down analysis) methods. Analyze the cost-effectiveness

Geographical Community
Words: 7841 Length: 20 Document Type: Research Paper

Community Analysis: Columbus, Ohio - Hilltop Area/Franklinton Identification and History The Franklinton/Hilltop area of Columbus, Ohio is located on the west side of the greater metropolitan area. Franklinton is in a river valley next to the Scioto River and the Hilltop area is just west of that on a rise. The Hilltop area is defined as the area between I-70 on the north, the B & O. railway to the east and

Business Intelligence Creating, Implementing and Using Business
Words: 1896 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

Business Intelligence Creating, Implementing and Using Business Intelligence in Clinic and Resort Cases In the process of effective decision making for improving opportunities and performance of a business, a vital role is played by Business Intelligence (BI). Business Intelligence Systems understand the environments of organizations and follow a systematic information process. These systems have huge development costs but are widely created, implemented and used in mid-sized organizations, hospitals, resorts and hotels. The

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now