Developing a staffing model and improving work practices of a hospital pharmacy system

The nation's pharmacy administration has evolved significantly from the pharmacist performing only dispensing related activity in the past to present, conducting daily patient monitoring by being in the vicinity of the patient care units. With an increase in pharmacist's responsibility the number of hospital pharmacist needed has increased and now has led to the shortage of pharmacist. Pharmacists are becoming highly valuable resource for any hospital as they have started playing a vital role in the patient's recovery. To utilize these valuable resources efficiently the pharmacy work practice needs to be lean and resource utilization should be maximized. In this research endeavor two separate solutions were suggested and implemented for improving the current pharmacy processes. A simulation model was developed for studying the pharmacy operations with an objective of reducing current turnaround time. The simulation model results became motivating factors for next initiative of developing staffing model for resource allocation.