A role model in attending to patient comfort
A pharmacy is the safety valve and the final phase in a series of steps taken to control and ensure the correct and safe supply and use of drugs by patients. A role model followed by other hospitals at Hamad Medical Corporation, the Heart Hospital pharmacy offers a full range of pharmaceutical services with a motivated and young management team who believes in change - change that is based on scientifically proven methods in the implementation of the latest healthcare standards in a safe, secure and efficient manner. Established on facts and evidence, these standards allow the healthcare system to achieve the desired results and provide healthcare services in a compassionate and speedy manner to meet the needs of patients and their families without any discrimination.
This department laid the path to success and achieved the intended outcomes with the help of God and the continued support and guidance of the executive management and teamwork. To learn more about pharmaceutical care, we met with Dr Manal Zaidan, Manager, Pharmacy Department at Heart Hospital and Al Amal Hospital who said: "The Heart Hospital pharmacy is the first to implement the automated prescription dispensing system at HMC to prevent errors and increase the efficiency in order completion. In collaboration with the hospital's Health Information System Center (HISC), the pharmacists developed a Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) system to improve the quality of care and benefit all medical staff by enabling them to view patients' medical records through the intranet. This system will enable the healthcare team to view, record and update various patient data including allergies to medications, diagnosis, medical procedures and vital signs."
The Automated Prescription System is a Success at Outpatient Clinics
Dr Manal explained that the Automated Prescription System has made measurable improvements since it was implemented in May, helping prevent mistakes in medical prescriptions and increasing order completion to an average of 200 prescriptions per day. The new system also reduced the waiting period to 10-15 minutes, according to a study conducted by the administration in June.
The pharmacy's newly renovated interior is a showpiece of modern design and cutting edge technology. Medications are displayed on round and rotating shelves to allow quick and easy access by pharmacists. Patients can see what is happening at the pharmacy, familiarizing themselves with the medication dispensing process from beginning to end. The pharmacy has eight transparent windows where the pharmacist greets patients, and a Take-A-Number system helps increase patient flow efficiency. A cashier is also available at the pharmacy to help patients make their payments on the spot.
Furthermore, we have paid special attention to our waiting rooms where patients can wait in a comfortable atmosphere. Our consultancy counters were organized to allow a private and relaxed setting between the pharmacist and patients when they are receiving medication counseling. Within 15 minutes, the pharmacist examines the patient's health file, verifies the laboratory results of certain medications, and reviews the medications' possible interactions and reactions, drug information and correct use.
Five Unprecedented Techniques to Dispense Medications to Inpatients
A. Automated Medication Dispensing System: This is the first time that the Pyxis system, a leading automated medication dispensing system in hospitals, is implemented in Qatar. This system was successfully put into operation in its entirety, leading to an increase in medication management efficiency and accuracy.
Dr Manal stated: "This is a medication cabinet-based system available in various inpatient departments, heart and operation rooms. Each medication cabinet has multiple drawers, but only the drawer containing the medication will open after the pharmacist has verified the medication prescription and dose using a central device at the inpatient pharmacy. After that, the nurse can dispense an "individual unit medication dose" to the patient. We are very proud because this system was planned and implemented by a group of qualified young Qataris, and was linked to the HMC Health Information Systems by the Heart Hospital HIS team.
B. Sterile Intravenous Solution Compounding Unit: Our Sterile IV Solution Compounding Unit is established to the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) General Chapter 797. A Qatari team successfully operates this unit.
C. Automated Unit Dose Packaging System: This is an innovative and excellent way to dispense medications to patients in a suitable, safe and secure manner. Each individual unit dose drug is carefully packaged and administered to inpatients through an automated medication packaging and dispensing system.
D. Smart IV Pumps: This type of pump was made available to ensure patient safety and the administration of the right medication dose at the right time. The pump has a pre-defined drug library that allows upper and lower dosage limits to be set for each medication.
When a nurse administers the medication above or below the medication dosage limit, an audio alert provides feedback that an error may have occurred. The Heart Hospital is the first to create this type of pump "drug library".
E. Pneumatic Tube Medication Delivery System: It might surprise you to hear that any department across the hospital can send a medical prescription in a capsule propelled through a network of tubes by compressed air and receive the medication back within a few minutes in the same capsule without getting lost in the pneumatic tubes.
Clinical Pharmacy Services Supported by Research and Continuous Education
Concerning research and continuous education, Dr Manal said: "Clinical pharmacology is one of the most important pharmaceutical practice types at hospitals. Aware of its importance, we successfully provided highly qualified and trained staff through continuous education and training to ensure the availability of an integrated medical team for the servicing of patients.
"This success would not have been possible without the qualified pharmaceutical staff made up of 13 pharmacists and 11 pharmacy technicians. They went through a meticulous and organized selection process based on skills, competencies, education level and professional ethics."
The Pharmacy Department is currently collaborating with the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University and the Pharmacy Technician program at College of the North Atlantic-Qatar, to train pharmacy students to Canadian standards, to communicate and participate effectively in scientific research.
Dr Manal concluded that the two specialized hospitals Al Amal Hospital and Heart Hospital are another achievement yet to be added to the success record of Hamad Medical Corporation. "Currently, we are examining the option of using a Robotic IV Automation system where a robot prepares sterile intravenous solutions, and continue to champion scientific research in support of HMC becoming an integrated and comprehensive world class pharmaceutical care system underpinned by research and continuous education, and helping achieve Qatar National Vision 2030."
-Ends-
About HMC:
Hamad Medical Corporation is the premier non-profit healthcare provider in Qatar. It was established by Emiri decree in 1979 and manages seven highly specialized hospitals, namely, Hamad General Hospital, Rumailah Hospital, Women's Hospital, Al Amal Hospital, Al Khor Hospital, Heart Hospital and Al Wakra Hospital. Since its establishment, HMC has rapidly developed medical facilities capable of providing state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment of diseases that previously could only be managed in overseas medical centers.
HMC prides itself in providing quality and cost-efficient healthcare for all patients regardless of nationality, in line with the State of Qatar's pledge of "Health for All". For this purpose, the Corporation implements a policy of continuous improvement of all management systems and patient care protocols. HMC's ethos is based on three key pillars which are Health, Education and Research.
For more information about HMC please visit www.hmc.org.qa.
© Press Release 2011
