Medication Management in Healthcare

Medication Management

• Goals:
  • Ensure accurate and timely delivery of medications to patients
  • Minimize medication errors and adverse events
  • Optimize medication use and reduce waste
• Key Components:
  • Medication ordering and transcription
  • Medication preparation and dispensing
  • Medication administration and monitoring
  • Medication storage and disposal
• Medication Management Systems:
  • Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems
  • Bar-code medication administration (BCMA) systems
  • Electronic medication administration records (eMARs)

Automated Dispensing Systems (ADS)

• Definition: Computer-controlled systems that store and dispense medications in a hospital setting
• Benefits:
  • Improved medication safety and accuracy
  • Increased efficiency and reduced wait times
  • Enhanced inventory management and reduced waste
  • Real-time tracking and reporting capabilities
• Types of ADS:
  • Decentralized ADS: located at the patient care unit level
  • Centralized ADS: located in the pharmacy or a central location
  • Hybrid ADS: combination of decentralized and centralized systems

Pharmacy Operations

• Pharmacy Services:
  • Inpatient medication management
  • Outpatient pharmacy services
  • Clinical pharmacy services (e.g. medication therapy management)
• Pharmacy Staffing:
  • Pharmacists
  • Pharmacy technicians
  • Pharmacy assistants
  • Support staff (e.g. clerks, automation technicians)
• Pharmacy Workflow:
  • Medication ordering and receiving
  • Medication preparation and dispensing
  • Medication delivery and administration
  • Inventory management and restocking

Medication Management

• Accurate and timely delivery of medications to patients is crucial to ensure effective treatment and minimize errors
• Minimizing medication errors and adverse events is a key goal, as it can lead to serious patient harm or even death
• Optimizing medication use and reducing waste is essential to reduce healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes

Key Components of Medication Management

• Medication ordering and transcription involves accurate and complete communication of medication orders
• Medication preparation and dispensing involves preparing and dispensing medications according to prescription orders
• Medication administration and monitoring involves administration of medications to patients and monitoring for adverse effects
• Medication storage and disposal involves proper storage and disposal of medications to prevent tampering and diversion

Medication Management Systems

• Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems improve medication safety by reducing errors and improving communication
• Bar-code medication administration (BCMA) systems use barcode scanning to ensure accuracy and reduce medication errors
• Electronic medication administration records (eMARs) provide a digital record of medication administration and help prevent errors

Automated Dispensing Systems (ADS)

• ADS are computer-controlled systems that store and dispense medications in a hospital setting, improving medication safety and accuracy
• Decentralized ADS are located at the patient care unit level, providing quick access to medications
• Centralized ADS are located in the pharmacy or a central location, providing improved inventory management and reduced waste
• Hybrid ADS combine decentralized and centralized systems, offering a flexible and efficient solution

Pharmacy Operations

• Pharmacy services include inpatient medication management, outpatient pharmacy services, and clinical pharmacy services such as medication therapy management
• Pharmacy staff includes pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, and support staff such as clerks and automation technicians
• Pharmacy workflow involves medication ordering and receiving, medication preparation and dispensing, medication delivery and administration, and inventory management and restocking