title: Automatic drug dispensing help or hindrance?
abstract: Automated drug-dispensing systems, already widely used in the United States, are increasingly being implemented on nursing units in Canada. The systems are designed to achieve computerized control of unit-dose medication dispensing throughout the institution. Proponents of these systems claim that they will substantially reduce nurse and pharmacist time devoted to drug distribution while reducing the risk of medication errors for patients. It is an attractive claim for health care institutions that are trying to make more effective use of staff resources.
authors.affiliation: Sociology Department, University of Winnipeg.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Novek
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rudnick
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload