Implementing a Pharmacy Order-Entry System to Decrease Pharmacy Costs: A Sequential Quasi-Experimental Study Design

In recent years, healthcare organizations have been seeking effective ways to reduce pharmacy costs without compromising patient care. One such approach is the implementation of a pharmacy order-entry system, which has shown promising results in decreasing pharmacy costs. This article will explore how a sequential quasi-experimental study design can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention.

A sequential quasi-experimental study design involves implementing an intervention and then measuring pharmacy costs before and after the intervention. In the case of a pharmacy order-entry system, the system is introduced, and pharmacy costs are tracked over time. This allows researchers to compare pre-intervention costs with post-intervention costs, providing valuable insights into the impact of the intervention.

For example, a hospital may introduce a new order-entry system aimed at decreasing pharmacy costs. By comparing pharmacy costs before and after the introduction of the system, researchers can determine if the intervention has led to significant cost savings.

Sequential quasi-experimental study designs are often used in medical informatics when a randomized controlled trial is not feasible or ethical. This design is particularly useful for evaluating interventions that cannot be blinded or require long-term follow-up.

In addition, this design allows researchers to assess the effectiveness of an intervention by comparing pre-intervention data with post-intervention data. For instance, a hospital may wish to study the impact of a new order-entry system on the number of medication-related adverse events before and after the intervention.

A systematic review of two medical informatics journals found that quasi-experimental studies are common in the medical informatics literature, but there is a need for more convincing evidence of causal links between medical informatics interventions and outcomes. By implementing higher-level quasi-experimental study designs, researchers can provide stronger evidence to support their findings.

In conclusion, sequential quasi-experimental study designs offer a valuable approach for evaluating the effectiveness of pharmacy order-entry systems in reducing pharmacy costs. This design is particularly useful when a randomized controlled trial is not feasible or ethical and provides valuable insights into the impact of an intervention on patient outcomes. By implementing this design, healthcare organizations can make informed decisions about the adoption and implementation of new technologies aimed at improving patient care and reducing costs.

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