Comparison and Estimate of Waiting Times in Traditional(Previous) and Computerized(Current) Pharmacy Systems.

Is it possible by computerization of an ambulatory-care pharmacy to decrease outpatient waiting time and to increase the efficiency of the prescription-dispensing process? To improvework flow and reduce outpatient waiting time, we compared the total waiting time of a traditional outpatient pharmacy dispensing system (previous) with that of a computerized dispensing system (current). Various tasks performed in pharmacy are shown Figure 1.Using time recorders, the time taken to perform these tasks was recorded. Three separate weeks, one in July 1989 (previous), one in December 1989 (current) and one in March 1990 (current), were chosen for data collection.The decrease in waiting time was evaluated comprehensively by determining the average waiting time.the gradient of calculating the arrival time of medicines in pharmacy counter, and minimum and maximum waiting times for every 10 continuous prescriptions (Population. means a group of patients who received their own medicines in pharmacy counter just after lighting of indicator board). In comparison with the traditional system, both the average waiting time and the time to complete the clerical component of the outpatient dispensing process decreased, but maximum waiting time showed no change from the time-distribution curve.Indication of waiting time to each patient should be corrected properly.