With design looking 20 years into the future, optimizing workflow was a main concern at a Community Hospital Pharmacy. After a setback with funding, Hamilton’s resourcefulness and the flexibility of their casework meant not all was lost. For the second time in five years, the Pharmacy Director led a renovation and expansion of Community Hospital Pharmacy. This change tripled the pharmacy’s square footage. The Director viewed the move as an opportunity to modernize work flow. The Director was charged with designing a system that would look 20 years into the future. His greatest challenge occurred towards the end of the planning phase of the project. The director and his staff had developed a progressive process for the unit pick area. The procedures centered around new carousel dispensing technology (CDT). At the last minute, the hospital lost funding for the carousel. In response to this setback, the manufacturer’s team quickly adjusted plans for the dispensing area from carousel technology to a traditional unit dose fill area. The new layout configured the casework for the present and anticipated the purchase of the carousel down the road. This would keep the initial product cost relatively unchanged, while minimizing the cost for the future conversion. They only had to add a few strategic pieces to the pick station along with some active storage shelving to achieve the goal. This revised drawing gave the client the confidence that we could easily convert the design back to the original plan without having to return to administration for a large dollar purchase of new casework. Dispatching an average 4,000 dosages per day, the hospital’s current unit dose fill station allows ready access to more than 900 medications. Having now worked in the new location for about a year, the director reports an unexpected benefit. In addition to being easily reconfigured and expanded, the casework has the look of fine furnishings. Everyone – visitors and staff – consistently comment on the beautiful decor. The pharmacy has a visually-pleasing and effective environment bolsters staff morale and retention. They are committed to improving our productivity, efficiency and patient satisfaction evaluations at this hospital. When the employees are happy, they provide better services and our patient satisfaction scores rise.

Keeping long-term functionality in mind, only a few changes had to be made to the casework design for storage and efficiency goals to be met with unique casework for unique needs,
In addition to the casework being easily reconfigured and expanded, the simple revisions to the original design plans allow for easy and low cost upgrades.

We offered a vast array of pharmacy furniture products based on the needs and wants of our customers. Our reception to the line has been overwhelmingly successful. The manufacturer is continually refining and expanding the line in response to feedback on hundreds of pharmacy projects.

Our customers love the details like toe kicks that allow them to work comfortably at the counter and soft close drawers that reduce noise levels in the pharmacy. Black phenolic resin work surfaces are ultra chemical resistant and keep stray pills in sight. Sinks can be integrated into the work surface. Steel toe kicks and sealed edges keep infection at bay.  Call us today for help.