01921nas a2200157 4500000000100000008004100001100001200042700001700054700002000071700001700091700001700108700002200125245011400147520148800261022001401749 2018 d1 aJoshi R1 aWebster Ruth1 aLaba Tracey-Lea1 aCavaye Diana1 aLehnbom Elin1 aEl-Boustani Elise00aConsidering pharmacy workflow in the context of Australian community pharmacy: A pilot time and motion study.3 a

BACKGROUND: Given time pressures on primary care physicians, utilising pharmacists for chronic disease management is of great interest. However, limited data are available on the current workflow in community pharmacies to guide these discussions.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the feasibility of collecting workflow data from Australian community pharmacies using the Work Observation Method By Activity Timing (WOMBAT) software and provide preliminary data on Australian pharmacy workflow.

METHODS: Data were collected from three pharmacies and four variables were recorded: what the pharmacist did, with whom, where and how. All tasks were timed and data were analysed to identify total number of tasks, median time per task, proportion of time per task, and common task combinations.

RESULTS: Pharmacists' main tasks consisted of counselling, dispensing and management activities (27%, 21% and 17% respectively of the overall number of tasks) and these tasks also took the majority of their time. Tasks were frequent but short, with the average time per task ranging from 0.55 to 8.46 min and most time was spent in areas without the capacity for patient interaction (51% in the dispensing/compounding area and 6% in the back office).

CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacies are dynamic environments with the average task taking 1-2 min. Longer interventions may not be easily integrated into current pharmacy workflow.

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