Abstract
IntroductionTo evaluate the economic impact of automated-drug dispensing systems (ADS) in surgical intensive care units (ICUs). A financial analysis was conducted in three adult ICUs of one university hospital, where ADS were implemented, one in each unit, to replace the traditional floor stock system.MethodCosts were estimated before and after implementation of the ADS on the basis of floor stock inventories, expired drugs, and time spent by nurses and pharmacy technicians on medication-related work activities. A financial analysis was conducted that included operating cash flows, investment cash flows, global cash flow and net present value.ResultsAfter ADS implementation, nurses spent less time on medication-related activities with an average of 14.7 hours saved per day/33 beds. Pharmacy technicians spent more time on floor-stock activities with an average of 3.5 additional hours per day across the three ICUs. The cost of drug storage was reduced by €44,298 and the cost of expired drugs was reduced by €14,772 per year across the three ICUs. Five years after the initial investment, the global cash flow was €148,229 and the net present value of the project was positive by €510,404.ConclusionThe financial modeling of the ADS implementation in three ICUs showed a high return on investment for the hospital. Medication-related costs and nursing time dedicated to medications are reduced with ADS.
Highlights
To evaluate the economic impact of automated-drug dispensing systems (ADS) in surgical intensive care units (ICUs)
The financial modeling of the ADS implementation in three ICUs showed a high return on investment for the hospital
We found that ADS markedly decreased the rates of administration of medication errors in the medical ICU [11]
Summary
To evaluate the economic impact of automated-drug dispensing systems (ADS) in surgical intensive care units (ICUs). A financial analysis was conducted in three adult ICUs of one university hospital, where ADS were implemented, one in each unit, to replace the traditional floor stock system. Optimization of drug delivery through automated drug dispensing systems (ADS) may be valuable in hospital departments with an uncontrolled floor stock [1]. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) are susceptible to medication errors and adverse events due to alterations in the pharmacokinetics of drugs, the intravenous administration of drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, and the high turnover in medications [2, 3]. The estimated annual costs attributable to preventable adverse drug events for a 700-bed teaching hospital were about
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