Impact of Technological Innovation on a Nursing Home Performance and on the Medication-use Process Safety

Enhancing Hospital Pharmacy Operations Through Lean and Six Sigma Strategies: A Systematic Review

Hospital pharmacies are integral to the healthcare system, and evaluating the factors influencing their efficiency and service standards is imperative. This analysis offers global insights to assist in developing strategies for future enhancements. The objective is to identify the optimal Lean Six Sigma methodologies to improve workflow and quality of hospital pharmacy services. A strategic search, aligned with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, encompassed an extensive range of academic databases, including Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and other sources for relevant studies published from 2009 to 2023. The focus was on management tactics and those examining outcomes, prioritizing publications reflecting pharmacy operations management's state. The quality of the selected articles was assessed, and the results were combined and analyzed. The search yielded 1,447 studies, of which 73 met the inclusion criteria. The systematic review found a low to moderate overall risk of bias. The number of publications rose during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Among studies, research output in the United States of America represented 26% of the total. Other countries such as Indonesia, Spain, Canada, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom also made significant contributions. Each country accounted for 12%, 8%, 7%, 5%, 5%, 5%, and 5%, respectively. The pharmacy journals led with 26 publications, and healthcare/medical with 14. The quality category came next with 12 articles, while seven journals represented engineering. Studies used empirical and observational methods, focusing on practice quality enhancement. The process control plan had 26 instances, and the define, measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC) was identified 13 times. The sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain (5S) ranked third, totaling seven occurrences. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and root cause analysis were moderately utilized, with six and four instances, respectively. Poka-Yoke (mistake-proofing measures) and value stream mapping were each counted three times. Quality improvement and workflow optimization dominated managerial strategies in 22 (30.14%) studies each, followed by technology integration in 15 (20.55%). Cost, patient care, and staffing each featured in three (4.11%) studies, while two (2.74%) focused on inventory management. One (1.37%) study each highlighted continuing education, collaboration, and policy changes. Analysis of the 73 studies on Lean and Six Sigma in hospital pharmacy operations showed significant impacts, with 26% of studies reporting decreased medication turnaround time, 15% showing process efficiency improvements, and 11% each for enhanced inventory management and bottleneck/failure mode reduction. Additionally, 9% of studies observed decreased medication errors, 8% noted increased satisfaction and cost savings, 6% identified enhancements in clinical activities, 3% improved prescription accuracy, 2% reduced workflow interruptions, and 1% reported increased knowledge. Also, this study has identified key strategies for service delivery improvement and the importance of quality practices and lean leadership. To the best of the author's knowledge, this research is believed to be the first in-depth analysis of Lean and Six Sigma in the hospital pharmacy domain, spanning 15 years from 2009 to 2023.

Medication Identification Device to Reduce Medication Errors in Nursing Homes: A Controlled Pilot Study

A controlled pilot study was performed to evaluate implementation of a medication identification device intended to reduce errors in nursing homes. Naïve observation was used for data collection of medication errors on an intervention unit using the device and a control unit, along with field notes describing observation details. Ten staff were observed administering medications to 70 residents over the study time-frame. Of the 9,099 medication administrations observed (n = 4,588 intervention; n = 4,511 control), 1,068 (12%) errors were identified. The intervention unit had fewer non-time errors versus the control unit, including dose (n = 21 vs. n = 59; p < 0.01), drug (n = 4 vs. n = 21; p <0.01), route (n = 0 vs. n = 4; p < 0.01), and given without order (n = 1 vs. n = 8; p < 0.01). However, time errors were higher on the intervention unit and were often due to late start and interruptions. Non-time errors were due to reliance on memory and nursing judgment. A combination of technology and staff dedicated solely to medication administration likely affected error rate differences. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48(4), 5-11.].

How smart medication systems are used to support older people's drug regimens: A systematic literature review

Smart medication systems are used to help older people, and the professionals and family who care for them, to organize and manage their daily drug regimes. However, synthetized knowledge on previous studies about how these improve everyday life is needed. We searched the PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SocINDEX and Cochrane library databases from 2005 to 2019 and this review focused on nine of the 2,424 papers we identified. According to our analysis, smart medication systems make it possible to regulate medication times and doses and detect medication errors. With further development, smart medication systems could be more be effective at preventing medication errors, improving medication adherence by older people and freeing up healthcare professional, so that they can focus on other tasks. However, more research on different systems is needed to improve existing solutions and to understand how they can make older people more independent when it comes to their daily medication.

Innovation to enhance health in care homes and evaluation of tools for measuring outcomes of care: rapid evidence synthesis

Background

Flexible, integrated models of service delivery are being developed to meet the changing demands of an ageing population. To underpin the spread of innovative models of care across the NHS, summaries of the current research evidence are needed. This report focuses exclusively on care homes and reviews work in four specific areas, identified as key enablers for the NHS England vanguard programme.

Aim

To conduct a rapid synthesis of evidence relating to enhancing health in care homes across four key areas: technology, communication and engagement, workforce and evaluation.

Objectives

(1) To map the published literature on the uses, benefits and challenges of technology in care homes; flexible and innovative uses of the nursing and support workforce to benefit resident care; communication and engagement between care homes, communities and health-related organisations; and approaches to the evaluation of new models of care in care homes. (2) To conduct rapid, systematic syntheses of evidence to answer the following questions. Which technologies have a positive impact on resident health and well-being? How should care homes and the NHS communicate to enhance resident, family and staff outcomes and experiences? Which measurement tools have been validated for use in UK care homes? What is the evidence that staffing levels (i.e. ratio of registered nurses and support staff to residents or different levels of support staff) influence resident outcomes?

Data sources

Searches of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Science Citation Index, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, DARE (Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects) and Index to Theses. Grey literature was sought via Google™ (Mountain View, CA, USA) and websites relevant to each individual search.

Design

Mapping review and rapid, systematic evidence syntheses.

Setting

Care homes with and without nursing in high-income countries.

Review methods

Published literature was mapped to a bespoke framework, and four linked rapid critical reviews of the available evidence were undertaken using systematic methods. Data were not suitable for meta-analysis, and are presented in narrative syntheses.

Results

Seven hundred and sixty-one studies were mapped across the four topic areas, and 65 studies were included in systematic rapid reviews. This work identified a paucity of large, high-quality research studies, particularly from the UK. The key findings include the following. (1) Technology: some of the most promising interventions appear to be games that promote physical activity and enhance mental health and well-being. (2) Communication and engagement: structured communication tools have been shown to enhance communication with health services and resident outcomes in US studies. No robust evidence was identified on care home engagement with communities. (3) Evaluation: 6 of the 65 measurement tools identified had been validated for use in UK care homes, two of which provide general assessments of care. The methodological quality of all six tools was assessed as poor. (4) Workforce: joint working within and beyond the care home and initiatives that focus on staff taking on new but specific care tasks appear to be associated with enhanced outcomes. Evidence for staff taking on traditional nursing tasks without qualification is limited, but promising.

Limitations

This review was restricted to English-language publications after the year 2000. The rapid methodology has facilitated a broad review in a short time period, but the possibility of omissions and errors cannot be excluded.

Conclusions

This review provides limited evidential support for some of the innovations in the NHS vanguard programme, and identifies key issues and gaps for future research and evaluation.

Future work

Future work should provide high-quality evidence, in particular experimental studies, economic evaluations and research sensitive to the UK context.

Study registration

This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42016052933, CRD42016052933, CRD42016052937 and CRD42016052938.

Funding

The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

The use of robots and other automated devices in nurses' work: An integrative review

BACKGROUND

Future nursing shortages and advanced technological developments mean that robots and automated devices could play a valuable role in nursing, but little has been published on their use, and outcomes, to date.

AIM

This integrative review identified how robots are currently used in nursing and the outcomes of those initiatives.

DESIGN

This study used integrative review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

DATA SOURCES

We searched the CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases for peer-reviewed papers published in English from January 2010 to August 2018.

REVIEW METHODS

The five-stage review process by Whittemore and Knafl was used.

RESULTS

The 25 included papers showed that robots and automated devices were mainly used in nursing to deliver medication, monitor patients, and provide nursing treatments. The outcomes were evaluated in relation to patient safety, working time and workload, usability, and the end users' satisfaction. In addition, the costs, care outcomes, nurses' behaviour, and changes in working procedures were considered.

CONCLUSIONS

Robots and automated devices have the potential to develop nurses' work, but more research and critical evaluations are needed to find the most suitable devices and focus on the functions that will provide the best outcomes for nurses' work.

Evaluation of a Barcode Medication Administration Information System

When a medication administration error occurs, patient safety is endangered. Barcode medication administration system usage has been implemented to reduce medication errors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate barcode medication administration system usage outcomes. A survey based on DeLone and McLean's model of information systems success was utilized. The questionnaire, composed of 27 items, explored system quality, information quality, service quality, user satisfaction, and usage benefits. It was completed by 232 nurses. User satisfaction received the highest average score, and quality of information was the most critical factor related to this result (r = 0.83, P < .01). Medication errors occurring before and after barcode medication administration use were collected, and the reasons for errors related to work process were explored. Medication errors decreased from 405 at preimplementation to 314 at postimplementation (t = 77.62, P < .001). The main reason for medication errors related to work process was "not following the standard procedure," followed by "other factors." While technology is deployed to support individual practice, organizational elements also remain important to technology adoption.

Neonatal ICU System Safety: A Pilot Test for Medication Error by Using Fuzzy Grey Relational Analysis

This study analyzed risk factors for medication/near-miss errors in the neonatal intensive care unit by using Grey Relational Analysis based on self-incident reports from staff nurses. The ASSESS-ERR Medication System Worksheet was used. A total of 156 medication/near-miss errors were found across 5 stages of the medication use process. The order prescribing stage had the most errors. The highest systemic risk factors were critical drug information missing; environmental, staffing, and workflow problems; and lack of staff education.

Understanding critical barriers to implementing a clinical information system in a nursing home through the lens of a socio-technical perspective

This paper addresses key barriers to implementing a clinical information system (CIS) in a Hong Kong nursing home setting, from a healthcare specific socio-technical perspective. Data was collected through field observations (n = 12) and semi-structured individual interviews (n = 18) of CIS stakeholders in a Hong Kong nursing home, and analyzed using the immersion/crystallization approach. Complex interactions relevant to our case were contextualized and interpreted within the perspective of the Sittig-Singh Healthcare Socio-Technical Framework (HSTF). Three broad clusters of implementation barriers from the eight HSTF dimensions were identified: (a) Infrastructure-based barriers, which relate to conflict between government regulations and system functional needs of users; lack of financial support; inconsistency between workflow, work policy, and procedures; and inadequacy of hardware-software infrastructural and technical support; (b) Process-based barriers, which relate to mismatch between the technology, existing work practice and workflow, and communication; low system speed, accessibility, and stability; deficient computer literacy; more experience in health care profession; clinical content inadequacy and unavailability; as well as poor system usefulness and user interface design; and (c) Outcome-based barriers, which relate to the lack of measurement and monitoring of system effectiveness. Two additional dimensions underlining the importance of the ability of a CIS to change are proposed to extend the Sittig-Singh HSTF. First, advocacy would promote the articulation and influence of changes in the system and subsequent outcomes by CIS stakeholders, and second, adaptability would ensure the ability of the system to adjust to emerging needs. The broad set of discovered implementation shortcomings expands prior research on why CIS can fail in nursing home settings. Moreover, our investigation offers a knowledge base and recommendations that can serve as a guide for future implementation strategies and policies in CIS initiatives.