As an independent pharmacist, it happens. You get distracted at work, even while you're filling prescriptions. A customer needs something, the phone rings, or an important medication question can't wait. One study found that as you or your technicians are dispensing medications, you might be interrupted or distracted as often as every two minutes.
Distractions lead to errors
It's been shown that risk of medication error increases almost 13% with every interruption. These errors can have major, even deadly consequences, and must be minimized as much as possible. In addition, these distractions make you inefficient; removing them can improve pharmacy workflow markedly.
Therefore, although people today take "multitasking" for granted and even expect to have to do it, you shouldn't. You can, however, minimize distractions and improve pharmacy workflow – and reduce your risk of error at the same time.
How can you minimize distractions to improve pharmacy workflow?
Organize your workspace for efficiency, focus and comfort
Simply organizing your workspace properly can minimize distractions and improve workflow. Make sure the dispensing area is a comfortable temperature, well lit, and properly situated to make dispensing as easy as possible; proper counter heights and adequate counter space to do the job properly are also essential.
Establish a routine to fill prescriptions
Enter, fill, and check prescriptions in exactly the same way every time, and affix labels to patients' prescription bottles before moving onto the next prescription. This will help prevent any mix-ups.
Fill prescriptions in a "closed" environment if at all possible
It may not be possible, but if you can, fill your prescriptions out of view of patients, customers, and others who may interrupt you. Let someone else answer the phone and take care of customers' and patients' questions while you work.
Avoid socializing, even with coworkers
Interestingly, although many professionals say that phone calls and patients are the primary sources of distraction, it may in fact be you that is causing the distraction; if you initiate conversations with your coworkers while you work (or they with you), that's almost certainly contributing to the risk of error.
Check and double check prescriptions once they are filled
Checking and rechecking prescriptions every time they are filled will minimize dispensing errors. Compare the written prescription with the finished product, the label as printed, and the written prescription as it appears in the computer. Don't "self-check." Instead, have another qualified person, such as one of your technicians, check to make sure your work is accurate. (They should do the same for their work.)
Make sure you know everything you need to about medications before you dispense
This is important to pharmacy workflow, because if you have to consult references or other sources to determine a medication's appropriate use and mechanism of action, for example, you're distracted – and that can lead to medication error, too.
Consider minimizing use of electronic devices
This is a bit of a quandary, because workflow management is imperative – and new electronic technology allows you to measure and access key reference data and other information much more quickly and easily so that you can be more efficient. However, these technologies can also cause significant interruptions in your work when used improperly. Limit their use to professional necessities like medications' research on the job and avoid posting on social media or personal texting.
Distractions don't have to wreak havoc on your pharmacy workflow. They may happen occasionally, but you can minimize them – and even eliminate them during crucial tasks like filling prescriptions – by implementing new policies limiting social interaction, and streamlining your workspace for comfort, visual ease, and efficiency.
