Implementing a Pharmacy System: Facilitators and Barriers

To describe facilitators and barriers to the implementation of an inpatient pharmacy system at two pediatric hospitals. Interviews, pre- and post-implementation, were conducted with pharmacy and clinical managers. Key findings from the pre-implementation survey were included in the post-implementation survey to further assess facilitators and barriers to the adoption of a pharmacy system. The majority of pharmacy participants and all clinical leaders believed that project goals were being met. Pharmacist's described staff readiness-to-change as the most significant facilitator to adoption and concerns with the usability of information in the pediatric drug file as the most significant barrier. Clinical managers described system training and education as the most significant facilitator to adoption and adjustment to new work processes as the most significant barrier. We described major facilitators and barriers to the adoption of an inpatient pharmacy system at two pediatric hospitals. Strategies identified by our informants to overcome barriers may promote successful pharmacy implementations at other pediatric facilities.