An Investigative Study on Technology Impact on the Quality of Working Life in a University Healthcare and Pharmacy

摘要

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the implementation of the Online Appointment Scheduling system and Pharm Partner system technologies on the quality of working life for users in a small healthcare environment at the University of Technology, Jamaica. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed. Two data collection instruments were: interviews and survey forms. The sample included Health Clinic and Pharmacy staff and users of these facilities. The investigation covered a one (1) year period. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 24.0 and NVivo software were used for data entry and analysis of the surveys and interviews respectively. Findings supported that the systems improved users’ quality of working life. Reduced waiting time for patients to access doctors and receive their prescription from both facilities. Pharmacists were able to dispense drugs to patients at a faster rate. Most manual functions at both facilities were automated: the retrieval of patient’s appointment scheduled information at health clinic and the retrieval of patient’s records at the pharmacy. Pharmacy inventory system was automated, patients at the health clinic were able to go online and see doctors available for appointments.