Implementing six sigma management to shorten the time of taking medicine from intelligent medicine cabinet in inpatient ward.

BACKGROUND: Medication errors and delays in drug dispensing are persistent challenges in traditional pharmacy systems. Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs) were introduced at the study hospital in July 2022 to improve medication safety and efficiency. However, the initial implementation phase revealed several issues, including prolonged medication retrieval times, suboptimal cabinet layout, system interface limitations, and inconsistent user operations. These challenges highlighted the need for further system optimization using a structured improvement approach. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to implement an inpatient pharmacy management system based on Six Sigma methodology and compare its effectiveness with TPS in terms of medication convenience and error reduction. METHODS: Starting in July 2022, an intelligent pharmacy management model was implemented in inpatient wards, centered around ADCs and guided by the Six Sigma methodology. Comprehensive improvements were made to address issues such as baseline medication management inefficiencies and delays in retrieving medications for temporary orders. The study compared various metrics, including the time required for retrieving medications for temporary orders, medication administration time, medication error rates before after one month of implementing the intelligent system and nurses' satisfaction with the intelligent system. RESULTS: Compared with the pre-implementation phase, the intelligent system significantly reduced the time required for nurses to retrieve medications and execute orders (P < 0.05). The rates of medication retrieval and administration errors also decreased (P < 0.05). A majority of nurses (86.96 %) reported that the intelligent system improved work efficiency, 92.40 % found it easier to retrieve medications during emergencies, and 97.82 % expressed high satisfaction with the system. CONCLUSION: The application of an intelligent inpatient pharmacy management system based on the Six Sigma methodology effectively reduced the time nurses needed to retrieve medications, enhanced overall nurse satisfaction, lowered error rates caused by human factors.