Optimal role of a hospital pharmacy

02 may 2019

AZ Glorieux is a merged hospital since January 1st, 2013, as a result of the acquisition of the Aurora Hospital (campus Ronse). AZ Glorieux asked Hict for support to improve the operation and perception of the pharmacy and to update the Therapeutic Formulary and the related Medical-Pharmaceutical Committees (MPC)

AZ Glorieux wanted to see noticeable results in an optimally functioning pharmacy.

Project Highlights

  • Customer: AZ Glorieux
  • Main Goal: Optimisation of pharmacy operational process
  • Main Result: Implementation of quick-wins and projects with positive impact results within a year

Approach

Hict suggested an approach in which the existing difficulties would be tackled along four axis.

AGLORIEUX

The underlying principles of this project were:

  • A more client-oriented service of the pharmacy
  • An efficient organisation of the pharmacy
  • Attention for the quality of the service
  • Attention for the costs accompanying the service

Finally, the pharmacy should be an enabler for innovation and qualitative medicine. Room should be available for new concepts, such as clinical pharmacy or for innovative projects: in other words, the pharmacy of the future.

Hict has attacked this project with a team consisting of a consultant and an expert in hospital pharmacies, which was present in the hospital one day a week. Through interviews and observations the team could identify the underlying grounds of the existing bottlenecks. Afterwards the team coached the head pharmacist in tackling these problems.


Taking into account the efficiency gain and the implemented “Quick Wins” at the pharmacy, noticeable results were obtained within a year.

Results

  • The organisation of the MPC was updated
  • The efficiency of the operation of the pharmacy is increased significantly
  • The communication in and around the pharmacy is optimized
  • A summary of the advices to the head pharmacist
  • An overview and prioritisation of the ongoing pharmacy projects
  • An up-to-date organigram of the pharmacy
  • An action plan for all pharmacy-related communication