Q-flow expected to cut 72nd MEDGRP wait times

  • Published
  • By Kevan Goff-Parker, Staff Writer
  • 72nd Air Base Wing

The 72nd Medical Group is introducing a new pharmacy services kiosk system known as “Q-Flow” for patients and beneficiaries who need to pick up prescriptions at Tinker Air Force Base.

Lt. Col. Theodosia Hill, 72nd Medical Support Squadron commander, said Q-Flow is “revolutionary,” because it creates virtual lines for pharmacy users on base.
The virtual line allows people to be seated while waiting for prescriptions and helps users better understand their wait times and when their prescription will be available.

“Once they use Q-Flow, they can check-in by scanning their ID card,” Hill said. “This will ensure we have them in the system and will provide them with a wait time depending on how long it takes to get their prescription filled.”

She said Q-Flow can accommodate called-in automated refill prescriptions, as well as paper prescriptions from doctors. A text message can also be sent to the patient if there is a problem with the prescription and when their prescription is ready to be picked up.

Once activated, people can choose whether to stay and wait for their refill or keep their ticket and return later in the day. There is also an option for emergency situations.

The 72nd MDG purchased three kiosks last fiscal year and two will be located near the pharmacy and another will be near the lab. Hill said she anticipates the kiosks will become functional toward the end of February. Hill said she is hopeful the kiosks will decrease wait time by 30-40 percent, and hopes to secure funding for more kiosks in the future.

She said the kiosks also help the 72nd MDG capture insurance data. “If a patient has outside insurance other than Tricare, they can fill in their information into a data spreadsheet which allows us to bill the insurance. When we’re able to get the proper information, we are able to modernize so that we can provide state-of-art care for our patients,” Hill said.

She said Maj. Karl Bituin, 72nd MDSS diagnostics and therapeutics flight commander, is the Air Force’s liaison on the Q-Flow installation process and implementation.
“Right now we have a 99.9 percent accuracy rate on our medications and we want to maintain this integrity in dispensing medications,” she said. “It is a pretty complicated process. There’s cross checks and triple checks.

“Sometimes it lengthens the amount of time it takes for the pharmacists to deliver medications. The Tinker Clinic has volunteered to be the site server for Q-Flow, so we’re actually building a baseline for the Air Force.”