Survey Says Drive-Through Pharmacy Could Cause Errors

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A study from Ohio State University indicates that for pharmacists who work at locations with drive-through windows, the windows may contribute to processing delays, reduced efficiency and even dispensing errors. Results also indicate that automated dispensing systems in pharmacies are likely to reduce the potential for errors and enhance efficiency. The study suggests pharmacy design should emphasize minimal workflow interruptions, but it also offers a caution to consumers to check their prescription medications, especially those obtained from a pharmacy’s drive-through window, said Sheryl Szeinbach, the study’s lead author and a professor of pharmacy practice and administration at Ohio State University. Szeinbach and colleagues surveyed 429 U.S. pharmacists working at pharmacies located within mass merchant retailers, traditional chain drugstores and independently owned shops.

Read More of Today's Headlines