Technological innovations in the prevention of medication dispensing errors in the hospital setting

Abstract

The high production pressures of hospital pharmacies make medication dispensing a process prone to errors and, therefore, unfavorable clinical outcomes. Given this, the objective is to map the main technological measures under development in the context of medication dispensing for hospitalized patients. This is an integrative review of studies published between 2020 and 2025 in the following databases: PubMed, Lilacs, Virtual Health Library (BVS), and ScienceDirect. The dispensing technologies addressed were automated dispensing cabinets, robotic picking and storage systems, image capture systems, mobile applications for bedside validation, and inventory management platforms. These have shown good integration into the hospital pharmacy workflow, with high adoption and satisfaction among professionals. However, further understanding of the effectiveness and usability, as well as the limitations and improvements proposed for such technological interventions, is still necessary.