We are proud to highlight the technological enhancement of the Drug Refill Service (DRS) at Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) through our RFID tagging system, featured in the publication by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority.
Enhancing Patient Safety and Workflow Efficiency in Outpatient Pharmacy Services
Since December 2017, TMH has implemented the Drug Refill Service (DRS) targeting Medicine & Geriatrics Specialist Out-patient Clinic (SOPC) patients with prolonged follow-up periods. This service aims to break prescriptions of long duration into shorter refills. Pharmacists perform medication reconciliation for each patient and proactively contact patients by phone to communicate medication changes, ensuring patient compliance and understanding of their treatment regimens to prevent drug-related problems (DRPs). Face-to-face counseling is arranged for patients with potential DRPs. Cases requiring urgent physician review are referred back to SOPC for further management. Through tele-pharmacy services and medication counseling, holistic pharmaceutical care is provided to ambulatory patients.
Technological Enhancement: RFID Tagging System
Alongside improvements in clinical care for SOPC patients, the deployment of the DRS at TMH has also driven significant technological advancements that enhance patient safety within the pharmacy workflow. We introduced an RFID tagging system to the New Territories West Cluster (NTWC) to support this.
Refill medications are prepared and securely packaged at Tin Shui Wai Hospital, which serves as the centralised dispensing hub for the NTWC. Each medication pack is fitted with a unique RFID tag, allowing accurate and systematic tracking throughout the supply chain.
Upon arrival at the drug collection point in Tuen Mun Hospital, patients receive automated SMS alerts informing them that their medication is ready for collection, effectively reducing the risk of missed doses due to supply shortages.
To assist pharmacy staff, the RFID system features a guided retrieval function where illuminated indicators highlight the precise storage location of each tagged medication pack. This technology greatly reduces human error during drug selection and dispensing, thereby enhancing patient safety.
Professional Insight
Dr L P Cheung, Deputy Service Director (Quality & Safety), New Territories East Cluster, emphasises the significance of combining clinical expertise with technological innovation:
“The medication reconciliation by pharmacists together with the technological advancement in the drug refill process in TMH, including the centralised dispensing service, drug packs with unique tags and medication refill reminders, has demonstrated an excellent example of how the hospital striving for quality improvement and patient-centered care”
At Howood International, we are dedicated to delivering innovative IoT solutions that enhance healthcare operations and patient safety. Our RFID tagging system deployed in the NTWC supports the Drug Refill Service at Tuen Mun Hospital, exemplifying our commitment to driving digital transformation in clinical pharmacy workflows.
