Investigation Interoperability Problems in Pharmacy Automation: A Case Study in Saudi Arabia

The aim of this case study is to investigate the nature of interoperability problems in hospital systems automation. One of the advanced healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia is the host of the study. The interaction between the pharmacy system and automated medication dispensing cabinets is the focus of the case system. The research method is a detailed case study where multiple data collection methods are used. The modelling of the processes of inpatient pharmacy systems is presented using Business Process Model Notation. The data collected is analysed to study the different interoperability problems. This paper presents a framework that classifies health informatics interoperability implementation problems into technical, semantic, organisational levels. The detailed study of the interoperability problems in this case illustrates the challenges to the adoption of health information system automation which could help other healthcare organisations in their system automation projects

Using an integrated information system to reduce interruptions and the number of non-relevant contacts in the inpatient pharmacy at tertiary hospital

Patient care is provided by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals intended for high-quality and safe patient care. Accordingly, the team must work synergistically and communicate efficiently. In many hospitals, nursing and pharmacy communication relies mainly on telephone calls. In fact, numerous studies have reported telephone calls as a source of interruption for both pharmacy and nursing operations; therefore, the workload increases and the chance of errors raises. This report describes the implementation of an integrated information system that possibly can reduce telephone calls through providing real-time tracking capabilities and sorting prescriptions urgency, thus significantly improving traceability of all prescriptions inside pharmacy. The research design is based on a quasi-experiment using pre-post testing using the continuous improvement approach. The improvement project is performed using a six-step method. A survey was conducted in Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC) to measure the volume and types of telephone calls before and after implementation to evaluate the impact of the new system. Beforehand of the system implementation, during the two-week measurement period, all pharmacies received 4466 calls and the majority were follow-up calls. Subsequently of the integrated system rollout, there was a significant reduction (p > 0.001) in the volume of telephone calls to 2630 calls; besides, the calls nature turned out to be more professional inquiries (p > 0.001). As a result, avoidable interruptions and workload were decreased

A model on factors affecting nurses adoption of health information technology

Healthcare organisations are using Health Information Technology (HIT) to improve efficiency, reduce cost and reduce medical errors. This study focused on the factors that influence the acceptance of HIT among nurses in Saudi hospitals. This research used a 6 stage mixed-methods research approach. Literature was used to search for established models and frameworks of technology acceptance, and the many factors that could play a role. In the field study, the nature of practical HIT issues at the Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC) and the Heraa Hospital were studied, and combined with literature to create a HIT Implementation Issues Framework. The framework consolidates elements from the Technological, Organisational, Environmental and Human dimensions. The researcher participated in further PSMMC projects in the design and implementation of the new Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation System and the Nurses and Pharmacists’ Communication System. From the implementation experience, pertinent factors were added to the Technology Acceptance Model and the “Nurses Acceptance Model” was proposed. The proposed model has eleven independent parameters, two dependent parameters, as well as seven moderators of key relationships. A questionnaire with 71 entries was distributed to over 2800 nurses in 52 wards in PSMMC. SPSS was used for data screening and descriptive statistics. The SmartPLS software was used for analysis and testing of the proposed hypotheses. The findings refined the “Nurses Acceptance Model” and highlight the significance of User Involvement and Training. The “Nurses Acceptance Model” enhances the scientific understanding of variables that affect technology acceptance among nurses in Saudi hospitals. The HIT Implementation Issues Framework helps hospital decision makers to plan HIT projects to improve the likelihood of successful adoption

N-functionalised expanded-ring N-heterocyclic carbenes: Synthesis, structure and catalysis

The work presented in this thesis is concerned with the synthesis, metal coordination and applications of expanded (6- and 7-membered) N-functionalised heterocyclic carbenes. It is divided into four chapters, which cover the following areas of research. Chapter One includes the historical and literature review of preparations, reactions, and catalysis applications for different-types of NHC, while in Chapter Two, the syntheses characterisation and solid state properties of new 6- and 7-membered NHC salts (with Mes, DIPP, o-MeOPh and o-MeSPh A/-substituents) are discussed. A new method for synthesising saturated NHC salts, using potassium carbonate as a mild base for the deprotonation of the corresponding formamidines reacted with di-electrophiles under aerobic conditions is presented. Chapter Three describes the syntheses characterisation and solid state structure of rhodium and iridium complexes. Expansion of the ring provides carbenes with NCnhcN angle close to the sp2 angle (120 ), which forces the A/-substituents to bend closer to the metal center. Furthermore, the expanded carbenes are found to be more basic than their 5-membered analogues. The wide NCnhcN angles and greater donor abilities of the expanded NHC carbenes mean that their catalytic applications are interesting to study. Chapter Four presents the results of catalytic performance for the 6- and 7-membered NHC rhodium and iridium complexes in olefin hydrogenation reactions with molecular hydrogen. These complexes are also tested as catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of ketones

Use of ring-expanded diamino- and diamidocarbene ligands in copper catalyzed azide-alkyne "click" reactions

The two-coordinate ring-expanded N-heterocyclic carbene copper­(I) complexes [Cu­(RE-NHC)₂]⁺ (RE-NHC = 6-Mes, 7-<i>o</i>-Tol, 7-Mes) have been prepared and shown to be effective catalysts under neat conditions for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of alkynes and azides. In contrast, the cationic diamidocarbene analogue [Cu­(6-MesDAC)₂]⁺ and the neutral species [(6-MesDAC)­CuCl]₂ and [(6-MesDAC)₂(CuCl)₃] show good activity when the catalysis is performed on water

An Evaluation of the Second Intermediate Saudi English Language Textbook from the Teachers' Point of View

The study evaluates the quality of the second intermediate grade English language textbook for Saudi girls' schools "from the teachers point of view" which was introduced at the intermediate stage by the Ministry of Education in 2004. This research project evaluates a new textbook that is considered to be the foundation stone in the English language program in Saudi Arabia. A survey questionnaire was used in this study to elicit the perspectives of 50 English language teachers and the population is about 220 teachers in Riyadh Educational Zone about the textbook in question. The questionnaire consisted of 23 items grouped under 5 main categories that are listed as: CB objectives, content, language style, skills, technical aspect and appearance of the CB. The data was subjected to analysis through descriptive statistics. The analysis of the results used several statistical methods which are as follows: Cronbach's alpha, means, percentage, chi square and standard deviations. The findings were generally in favor of the textbook except for the language style and some other sub-items. Out of 23 items in the questionnaire, only 4 items had arithmetic means less than 3.50 (the average). The category that had the highest mean was the one on technical aspects, while the category that had the lowest mean was the one on language style.Keywords:  Evaluation, textbook, content, curriculum and syllabus, goals and objectives, materials evaluatio