The application of reengineering of the dispense process of discharge medications for elderly cardiac patients

Abstract

Objective The study aimed to improve the medication safety of aged patients through the reengineering of the dispense process of discharge medications for elderly cardiac patients. Methods The original dispense process was analyzed to find the existing problems, changing the order of process, increasing or decomposing steps of process in order to redesign, perfect and implement the distribution process of medications. Time and correction rate of drug dispensing for three times a day, mastering degree of related knowledge of oral medication and satisfaction degree with medication instruction were compared before and after reengineering of the process. Results Compared with the original process, patients' ability to understand the drug knowledge, the timing when the patients take three medications per day and the satisfaction degree with the instructions of taking medications all had statistical significance. Conclusions Reengineering of the dispense process of discharge medications for elderly cardiac patients can help to improve patients' understanding of drug knowledge, improve the security of taking medications outside the hospital as well as their satisfaction degree with nursing. Key words: Cardiovascular diseases; Aged; Discharge medication; Oral medicine; Process reengineering