Optimizing Medication Turnaround Time in Hospital Pharmacies: A Systematic Review important, factors and Solutions.

Background: Medication turnaround time (TAT) is a critical metric for evaluating the efficiency and safety of hospital pharmacy operations. Optimizing TAT is essential to ensure patient safety, reduce medication errors, enhance workflow efficiency, enhance resource utilization and enhance both the continuity of care and patient satisfaction. Aim: To discuss the important of TAT, factors influencing medication TAT and provide evidence-based recommendations to optimize medication delivery thereby improve patient care. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect was conducted up to June 15, 2025. Eligible studies included if they were conducted in inpatient settings and reported medication TAT as outcome. Outpatient studies and those without relevant data were excluded. Data on study characteristics, interventions, and outcomes were extracted and summarized narratively; no meta-analysis was performed due to the heterogeneity of the studies. Results: Analysis identified several determinants of prolonged TAT included inefficient health IT systems, inadequate communication, staffing limitations, and inconsistent workflows. Effective interventions encompassed automation, workflow redesign, staff role optimization, and process standardization. These strategies consistently reduced TAT, with reported improvements of 10% to over 50%. Conclusion: TAT is a fundamental indicator to measure hospital pharmacy performance and improve patient outcomes. Addressing the barriers through evidence-based strategies can significantly streamline the medication use process. Optimizing medication TAT requires a multifaceted approach that include integrates technology, standardized workflows, and improve human factors. Evidence suggests these approaches not only enhance operational efficiency but also reduce errors, strengthen regulatory compliance, and ultimately improve patient safety as well as satisfaction.