title: Medication supply chain management through implementation of a hospital pharmacy computerized inventory program in Haiti.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, St. Luke Hospital was built to help manage the mass casualties and subsequent cholera epidemic. A major problem faced by the hospital system was the lack of an available and sustainable supply of medications. Long-term viability of the hospital system depended largely on developing an uninterrupted medication supply chain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that the implementation of a new Pharmacy Computerized Inventory Program (PCIP) would optimize medication availability and decrease medication shortages.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted the research by examining how medications were being utilized and distributed before and after the implementation of PCIP. We measured the number of documented medication transactions in both Phase 1 and Phase 2 as well as user logins to determine if a computerized inventory system would be beneficial in providing a sustainable, long-term solution to their medication management needs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PCIP incorporated drug ordering, filling the drug requests, distribution, and dispensing of the medications in multiple settings; inventory of currently shelved medications; and graphic reporting of 'real-time' medication usage. During the PCIP initiation and establishment periods, the number of medication transactions increased from 219.6 to 359.5 (p=0.055), respectively, and the mean logins per day increased from 24.3 to 31.5, p<0.0001, respectively. The PCIP allows the hospital staff to identify and order medications with a critically low supply as well as track usage for future medication needs. The pharmacy and nursing staff found the PCIP to be efficient and a significant improvement in their medication utilization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An efficient, customizable, and cost-sensitive PCIP can improve drug inventory management in a simplified and sustainable manner within a resource-constrained hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; holm.michelle@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Michelle R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Rudis
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D006205:Haiti; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: computer program; global health inventory system solution; inventory; medication management system; pharmacy