Improvement of Current Medication Pill-Crushing Process
Care Process & Redesign
Technology
National University Health System Quality Improvement
National University Health System
31 December 2018
Reduce time nurses spend on crushing medication and improve workflow efficiency. Automated pill crushers enhanced staff satisfaction and reduced manual labor, demonstrating the value of automation in clinical.
Year Submitted: 2018
Published Date: 31 December 2018
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Technology, Clinical Practice Improvement, Automation, Productivity
About this Content
Aims
Reduce time nurses spend on crushing medication and improve workflow efficiency.
Background
The manual mortar and pestle method was labor-intensive and time-consuming. Automated pill crushers were introduced to optimize the medication preparation process.
Methods
Procured automated crushers, provided training, and monitored implementation.
Results
Medication preparation time decreased from 2.2 to 0.7 minutes per patient, with a 68.3% improvement rate. Staff reported reduced physical effort and increased workflow efficiency.
Conclusion
Automated pill crushers enhanced staff satisfaction and reduced manual labor, demonstrating the value of automation in clinical workflows.
Lessons Learnt
Educated staff on best practices (e.g., direct use of pill crusher cups) and distributed visual guides for consistent usage.
Keywords
Process Improvement, Technology, Robotics & Automation, Clinical Productivity, Medication Serving, Medication Grinding, Medication Preparation, Reduce Waste, Time Saving, Automated Pill Crusher, Staff Training, Dysphagic Patient Friendly, Nursing, Indust
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National University Health System |
Organization(s) Involved | National University Hospital |
Platform(s) | National University Health System Quality Improvement |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Nursing |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Pharmacology, Speech Therapy |
Project Lead(s) | Louis Ong |
Project Member(s) | Lim Jia Hui |
Connect with this contributor!
Louis Ong - louis_ong@nuhs.edu.sg
Lim Jia Hui - lim_jia_hui@nuhs.edu.sg
Project Attachment
1_NUH_Improvement_of_Current_Medication_Pill_Crushing_Process_combine.pdf