Projects per year
Abstract
Objective: New technological advancements are often a driver for change in the redesign of services. More research is needed to better understand the impact of socio-technical dimensions on the implementation of new technological systems in hospital pharmacy. This paper aims to analyse the early-stage experiences (first six months) arising from the large-scale automation of medicines distribution, as part of a redesign programme of hospital pharmacy services within a large UK Health Authority.
Methods: Thirty-six pharmacy staff from four hospital sites (700-900 inpatient beds per site) were interviewed over 11 visits between May and September 2010. Interviews were complemented by extensive documentary data on the redesign programme. Data analysis included inductive coding followed by thematic analysis. Research findings were fed into the monthly Project Board meetings, to inform the decision-making process throughout the automation project.
Results: Six key themes were identified. The technical dimensions involved issues associated with the robotic storage and distribution system, the pharmacy management system, and sourcing medicines unavailable from the pharmacy distribution centre. The social/human dimensions related to understanding staff roles within the new system, the importance of effective communication, and the effect of the redesign on staff morale.
Conclusions: The introduction of new technology may not only lead to unintended first-order consequences such as initial staff resistance, but can also generate potentially serious adverse feedback loops between the social and technical dimensions of the new system. Nevertheless, if such early-stage problems can be effectively overcome, significant benefits are achievable.
Methods: Thirty-six pharmacy staff from four hospital sites (700-900 inpatient beds per site) were interviewed over 11 visits between May and September 2010. Interviews were complemented by extensive documentary data on the redesign programme. Data analysis included inductive coding followed by thematic analysis. Research findings were fed into the monthly Project Board meetings, to inform the decision-making process throughout the automation project.
Results: Six key themes were identified. The technical dimensions involved issues associated with the robotic storage and distribution system, the pharmacy management system, and sourcing medicines unavailable from the pharmacy distribution centre. The social/human dimensions related to understanding staff roles within the new system, the importance of effective communication, and the effect of the redesign on staff morale.
Conclusions: The introduction of new technology may not only lead to unintended first-order consequences such as initial staff resistance, but can also generate potentially serious adverse feedback loops between the social and technical dimensions of the new system. Nevertheless, if such early-stage problems can be effectively overcome, significant benefits are achievable.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 362-367 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy: Science and Practice |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 6 |
Early online date | 4 Jul 2013 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 20 Nov 2013 |
Keywords
- robotics
- health technology
- hospital pharmacy
- organisational change
- socio-technical systems
- early-stage experiences
- large-scale robotic storage
- hospital pharmacy service
- UK Health Authority
- distribution system
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Early-stage experiences of the implementation of a large-scale robotic storage and distribution system in a hospital pharmacy service within a large UK Health Authority'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Glasgow Pharmacy Distribution Centre Robotics Project
Bennie, M. (Principal Investigator) & van der Meer, R. (Co-investigator)
Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board
5/01/10 → 3/10/10
Project: Research
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Improving the delivery of pharmaceutical care through the use of large-scale pharmacy automation
van der Meer, R., Lannigan, N., Bennie, M. & Dunlop Corcoran, E., 25 Mar 2015.Research output: Contribution to conference › Other › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Acute Pharmacy Redesign Program: Report for the Pharmacy and Prescribing Support Unit, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Bennie, M., Van-Der-Meer, R., Chalmers, D., Dunlop, E., Puangpee, P.-O. & Jindal, K., Dec 2010, Glasgow: University of Strathclyde. 87 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
Open AccessFile
Activities
- 1 Key-note speaker and plenary lectures at conferences
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BECIC 2018
van der Meer, R. (Keynote/plenary speaker)
30 Nov 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Key-note speaker and plenary lectures at conferences