Distribution accuracy of a decentralized unit dose system
Mayo, C.E.; Kitchens, R.G.; Reese, R.L.; Spruill, W.J.; Taylor, A.T.; Ray, M.D.
American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 32(11): 1124-1126
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9289 PMID: 1190232 Document Number: 91247
Unit dose medication carts in a 500-bed university hospital were monitored for accuracy and completeness after delivery to the nursing station. The contents of the cart were compared with the nurse's patient medication record. Discrepancies were recorded for evaluation. All medication cart distribution errors found were analyzed to identify the source and were tabulated to determine error rate. Three major categories of errors were discovered: pharmacy technician errors not corrected by the pharmacist, errors associated with nurse's patient medication records, and errors resulting from lost orders.