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ALEX C. LIN, PH.D., is Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Systems and Administration, Division of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati (UC), Cincinnati, OH. YAO-CHIN HUANG, M.S., is President, Kong Siou Pharmacy, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China; at the time of the study he was master’s of science degree candidate, Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, UC. GEORGE PUNCHES, B.S. (retired), was President, Punches Pharmacy Plus, Clare, MI. YAN CHEN, M.P.h., is doctoral degree candidate, Division of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, UC.

Address correspondence to Dr. Lin at the College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, 3225 Eden Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0004 (alex.lin{at}uc.edu).

Purpose. The effects of using an automated prescription-filling system, the ScriptPro SP-200, in an independent pharmacy were evaluated. Methods. The study was conducted at Punches Pharmacy Plus, an independent pharmacy located in Clare, Michigan. The study design was a preinstallation and postinstallation assessment of the ScriptPro SP-200 automated prescription-filling system. Videotaping and work sampling techniques were used to collect the preinstallation and postinstallation data of the ScriptPro SP-200. The use of the pharmacy staff and the time spent in direct and indirect prescription- filling activities, such as receiving, order entry, filling, inspecting, packaging, dispensing, phone calls, and inventory management, were measured and compared preinstallation and postinstallation. Results. With the installation of automation, the percentage of time spent by the pharmacy staff significantly changed (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, there was a statistically significant difference in terms of the percentages of time spent on various activities between the preinstallation and postinstallation of automation (p < 0.001). Before installation of automation, the direct and indirect prescription-filling times used were 6.07 and 2.11 minutes, respectively, to fill one prescription. Analyses of the average time spent per prescription showed that the installation of automation could save nearly 0.22 minute per prescription, especially filling time per prescription—which was significantly decreased from 2.63 to 2.07 minutes with an average of 0.56 minute saved (p < 0.05). Conclusion. An automated system reduced prescription-filling time but required staffing adjustments to optimize the efficiency gained. Index terms: Automation; Dispensing; Manpower; Personnel, pharmacy; Pharmacy, community; Robotics; Time studies