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Effectiveness Optimization of an Automatic Medicine Dispenser Based on the Entry-Item-Quantity ABC Analysis Method and Track Utilization Rate Algorithm

Received: 1 March 2021     Accepted: 20 March 2021     Published: 26 March 2021
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Abstract

Modern hospital pharmacies are undergoing broad-scale shifts toward informatization and automation. With the widespread use of automated medicine dispensing systems in major Chinese hospitals, their application value has been increasingly confirmed. However, relative to other countries, automation of China’s pharmacies was relatively delayed, and the use of imported automated equipment in domestic hospital pharmacies dealing with an enormous prescription burden poses substantial challenges in maintaining high automation efficiency when the hospital patient flow is at its peak. Objective to optimize the medicine storage system of automatic medicine dispensers and to improve the automation efficiency of pharmacies using the entry-item-quantity (EIQ)-ABC analysis method and a track utilization rate algorithm. Methods A total of 76,069 prescriptions from the CONSIS automated medicine dispensing system of medicine dispensing system of our hospital’s outpatient pharmacy were selected in June 2020, and the EIQ-ABC analysis method was used to perform associative classification of the dispensing volume and frequency of each medicine. The varieties of medicines in the automatic dispenser were adjusted according to the classification results, and then, the storage space of medicines was optimized using a track utilization rate algorithm. The performance of this method was evaluated by comparing the automatic rate of the dispensing volume, and the real-time window dispensing rate and prescription ratio before and after optimization. Results After the implementation of the EIQ-ABC analysis method and track utilization rate algorithm, the average automation rate of dispensing volume, real-time window average dispensing rate, and real-time window average prescription ratio increased by 2.46%, 4.4%, and 4.87%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those before implementation (P < 0.05). Conclusion Using the EIQ-ABC analysis method and the track utilization algorithm to optimize the varieties and storage space of medicines in an automatic medicine dispenser can fully utilize storage space, reduce instances of lack of medicine in the dispenser, and improve the fully automatic dispensing rate.

Published in International Journal of Health Economics and Policy (Volume 6, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.hep.20210601.14
Page(s) 31-37
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

EIQ-ABC, Pharmacy Automation, Storage Space Management, Outpatient Pharmacy

References
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[2] WEI Menglin, DOU Dahai, ZHANG Dengli, et al. Analysis of the Effect and Problem of the Automatic Medicine Dispenser Used on a Large Scale in Outpatient Pharmacy [J]. Modern Hospitals, 2019, 019 (004): 518-521.
[3] LIN Yan, CAI Zhibo, HUANG Mengshan, et al. Evaluation of Development Status and Application Effect of Outpatient Pharmacy Automatic Dispensing System in Mainland China [J]. Chin J Mod Appl Pharm, 2020, 37 (09): 111-118.
[4] ZHANG Yuan, LI Xihan. Situation Analysis and Suggestion on the Construction and Development of Outpatient Automated Phar-macy in China [J]. China Pharmacy, 2018, 29 (001): 11-16.
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[6] LI Junting, QIU Wenwen, WEN Wen. Application of EIQ-ABC Analysis Method in Warehousing Process Optimization of Logistics Center [J]. Logistics Sci-Tech, 2020, (05): 167-171.
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[14] WANG Cunwei. The application and experience of auto-dispense machine in our hospital outpatient pharmacy. [J] Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2017, 03 (v. 36): 59-61.
[15] GAO Shan-rong, TIAN Jia-xin, LI Pei-hong. Application of EIQ-ABC Analysis in Design of Automatic Pharmacy Plan [J]. China Pharmacy, 2014, 25 (33): 3118-3121.
[16] SHEN Yingyan, CHEN Xiulan, LI Tao. Continuous Optimization of Drug Storage Position Management in Automatic Dispensing Machine by Orbital Utilization Rate Algorithm [J]. China Pharmacy, 2017, 28 (28): 4029-4032.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Fengling Li, Yixuan Zhong, Huiting Zhong, Xiuyue Zeng. (2021). Effectiveness Optimization of an Automatic Medicine Dispenser Based on the Entry-Item-Quantity ABC Analysis Method and Track Utilization Rate Algorithm. International Journal of Health Economics and Policy, 6(1), 31-37. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hep.20210601.14

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    ACS Style

    Fengling Li; Yixuan Zhong; Huiting Zhong; Xiuyue Zeng. Effectiveness Optimization of an Automatic Medicine Dispenser Based on the Entry-Item-Quantity ABC Analysis Method and Track Utilization Rate Algorithm. Int. J. Health Econ. Policy 2021, 6(1), 31-37. doi: 10.11648/j.hep.20210601.14

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    AMA Style

    Fengling Li, Yixuan Zhong, Huiting Zhong, Xiuyue Zeng. Effectiveness Optimization of an Automatic Medicine Dispenser Based on the Entry-Item-Quantity ABC Analysis Method and Track Utilization Rate Algorithm. Int J Health Econ Policy. 2021;6(1):31-37. doi: 10.11648/j.hep.20210601.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.hep.20210601.14,
      author = {Fengling Li and Yixuan Zhong and Huiting Zhong and Xiuyue Zeng},
      title = {Effectiveness Optimization of an Automatic Medicine Dispenser Based on the Entry-Item-Quantity ABC Analysis Method and Track Utilization Rate Algorithm},
      journal = {International Journal of Health Economics and Policy},
      volume = {6},
      number = {1},
      pages = {31-37},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hep.20210601.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hep.20210601.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hep.20210601.14},
      abstract = {Modern hospital pharmacies are undergoing broad-scale shifts toward informatization and automation. With the widespread use of automated medicine dispensing systems in major Chinese hospitals, their application value has been increasingly confirmed. However, relative to other countries, automation of China’s pharmacies was relatively delayed, and the use of imported automated equipment in domestic hospital pharmacies dealing with an enormous prescription burden poses substantial challenges in maintaining high automation efficiency when the hospital patient flow is at its peak. Objective to optimize the medicine storage system of automatic medicine dispensers and to improve the automation efficiency of pharmacies using the entry-item-quantity (EIQ)-ABC analysis method and a track utilization rate algorithm. Methods A total of 76,069 prescriptions from the CONSIS automated medicine dispensing system of medicine dispensing system of our hospital’s outpatient pharmacy were selected in June 2020, and the EIQ-ABC analysis method was used to perform associative classification of the dispensing volume and frequency of each medicine. The varieties of medicines in the automatic dispenser were adjusted according to the classification results, and then, the storage space of medicines was optimized using a track utilization rate algorithm. The performance of this method was evaluated by comparing the automatic rate of the dispensing volume, and the real-time window dispensing rate and prescription ratio before and after optimization. Results After the implementation of the EIQ-ABC analysis method and track utilization rate algorithm, the average automation rate of dispensing volume, real-time window average dispensing rate, and real-time window average prescription ratio increased by 2.46%, 4.4%, and 4.87%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those before implementation (P < 0.05). Conclusion Using the EIQ-ABC analysis method and the track utilization algorithm to optimize the varieties and storage space of medicines in an automatic medicine dispenser can fully utilize storage space, reduce instances of lack of medicine in the dispenser, and improve the fully automatic dispensing rate.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Effectiveness Optimization of an Automatic Medicine Dispenser Based on the Entry-Item-Quantity ABC Analysis Method and Track Utilization Rate Algorithm
    AU  - Fengling Li
    AU  - Yixuan Zhong
    AU  - Huiting Zhong
    AU  - Xiuyue Zeng
    Y1  - 2021/03/26
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hep.20210601.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.hep.20210601.14
    T2  - International Journal of Health Economics and Policy
    JF  - International Journal of Health Economics and Policy
    JO  - International Journal of Health Economics and Policy
    SP  - 31
    EP  - 37
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2578-9309
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hep.20210601.14
    AB  - Modern hospital pharmacies are undergoing broad-scale shifts toward informatization and automation. With the widespread use of automated medicine dispensing systems in major Chinese hospitals, their application value has been increasingly confirmed. However, relative to other countries, automation of China’s pharmacies was relatively delayed, and the use of imported automated equipment in domestic hospital pharmacies dealing with an enormous prescription burden poses substantial challenges in maintaining high automation efficiency when the hospital patient flow is at its peak. Objective to optimize the medicine storage system of automatic medicine dispensers and to improve the automation efficiency of pharmacies using the entry-item-quantity (EIQ)-ABC analysis method and a track utilization rate algorithm. Methods A total of 76,069 prescriptions from the CONSIS automated medicine dispensing system of medicine dispensing system of our hospital’s outpatient pharmacy were selected in June 2020, and the EIQ-ABC analysis method was used to perform associative classification of the dispensing volume and frequency of each medicine. The varieties of medicines in the automatic dispenser were adjusted according to the classification results, and then, the storage space of medicines was optimized using a track utilization rate algorithm. The performance of this method was evaluated by comparing the automatic rate of the dispensing volume, and the real-time window dispensing rate and prescription ratio before and after optimization. Results After the implementation of the EIQ-ABC analysis method and track utilization rate algorithm, the average automation rate of dispensing volume, real-time window average dispensing rate, and real-time window average prescription ratio increased by 2.46%, 4.4%, and 4.87%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those before implementation (P < 0.05). Conclusion Using the EIQ-ABC analysis method and the track utilization algorithm to optimize the varieties and storage space of medicines in an automatic medicine dispenser can fully utilize storage space, reduce instances of lack of medicine in the dispenser, and improve the fully automatic dispensing rate.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

  • Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

  • Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

  • Central Sterile Supply Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

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