Impact of an automated perpetual inventory management system on perioperative and infusion-based pharmacy inventory and operational efficiency.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated whether implementing perpetual inventory automation in decentralized pharmacies at an academic medical center reduces inventory value and optimizes supply chain functions.

SUMMARY: This quality improvement project was conducted at an 881-bed academic medical center. The financial and operational impact of an automated perpetual inventory management system was assessed in 2 locations: an ambulatory infusion-based cancer center pharmacy and a perioperative satellite pharmacy. The primary outcome was the change in total inventory value before versus after implementation. Secondary outcomes included staff efficiency and nonfinancial medication inventory metrics. Data was collected from June 2024 to January 2025 and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Postimplementation data showed a cumulative reduction in medication inventory value for both pharmacies. The infusion-based pharmacy's total inventory value decreased by $926,291 (22.15%), and the inventory turnover ratio increased from 1.23 to 1.69 (a 37.01% increase). The perioperative satellite pharmacy's total inventory value decreased by $8,271 (12.88%), and the inventory turnover ratio decreased from 1.14 to 0.78 (31.66%) due to a concurrent decrease in medication spend. Overall, the total inventory was reduced from $4,245,693 to $3,311,131 (22.01%).

CONCLUSION

Implementation of an automated perpetual inventory management system resulted in benefits in the reduction of inventory value reduction and increased operational efficiency. Real-time tracking improved inventory oversight, suggesting automated perpetual inventory management can enhance inventory management in academic medical centers from both financial and workflow perspectives.