Pharmacy intervention and the anesthesia drug exchange drawer.
We implemented an ED drug system for anesthesia carts at no net cost. Cooperation by the departments of pharmacy and anesthesia permitted the establishment of services without additional funds for new personnel or equipment. The system offers a number of important advantages over individual-cart drug stocking. Benefits include reduced costs, improved patient safety, improved drug handling, and better communication between anesthesia and pharmacy personnel. We conclude that when a satellite pharmacy is not feasible, or as an interim measure, an ED system can provide substantial benefits over individual anesthesia carts. We further observed that anesthetists' drug-handling behaviors improved when carts were common and standardized.
Christie
J M
JM
Veterans Affairs Medical Center Bay Pines, Bay Pines 33504.
Byrd
W
W
D000758:Anesthesia; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005431:Florida; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*