Implementation and evaluation of an EHR-integrated perpetual inventory system in a large tertiary hospital oncology pharmacy.

Abstract

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. This study aimed to compare the impact of an electronic health record (EHR)-integrated perpetual inventory management system (EIMS) versus a traditional inventory management system (TIMS) on inventory accuracy, visibility, and turnover in a large academic tertiary hospital. The quasi-experimental study was conducted over 12 months (a 6-month preimplementation period and a 6-month postimplementation period, with an 11-month washout period) at Houston Methodist Hospital. The EIMS was implemented following the use of TIMS. A total of 114 matched inventory items from both systems were identified and compared. The primary outcome was inventory accuracy, calculated as cycle count accuracy. The secondary outcomes were inventory visibility and monthly inventory turnover rate. Analysis demonstrated a 6.02% absolute increase in inventory accuracy (P < 0.001) with use of the EIMS versus the TIMS. After adjusting for inflation, there was an increase in the captured cost of goods sold from $4.16 million to $5.16 million. The monthly inventory value, adjusted for inflation in the prices of studied inventory items, increased from $2.05 million to $2.33 million. The monthly inventory turnover rate increased from 2.03 to 2.23 turns per month (P = 0.305) when compared to the pre- and post-implementation periods. Inventory visibility increased from 133 inventory items to 264 inventory items after EIMS implementation, indicating a 98% visibility increase compared to preimplementation levels. This study found that implementing an EIMS significantly increased pharmacy inventory accuracy and inventory visibility, which are essential for optimizing patient care and pharmacy financial management.