Labor standard development for a decentralized mobile cart unit dose drug distribution system.

A project to develop labor standards for a decentralized mobile cart unit dose drug distribution system was performed. First, the tasks associated with the drug distribution system were defined. Then a predetermined number of observations were made using a modified self-reporting and work sampling technique to document activities of the floor pharmacists and pharmacists in the unit dose room. Stop-watch time studies were performed to evaluate computer entry tasks. From the data collected, average times for completion of each task defined were calculated. For each calculated average time, an adjusted average was calculated based upon other productive and personal time observed as part of the work study. The calculated labor standards are compared with other labor standards reported in the literature.