title: Evaluation of the "make or buy" decision for oral solid unit-dose medications.
abstract: Changing from one drug distribution system to another requires analysis of many standard operating procedures. Analysis of the "make or buy" decision, a form of break-even analysis, is necessary. A mathematical model is developed that considers the relevant costs and allows one to compare directly the commercially available unit-dose medication with your own repackaging process. The mathematical model is intended to aid in the decision of whether to make or buy a unit-dose form of medication. The relevant range of the model and the results are approximate but they give a good estimation of the costs involved. The information necessary to decide what form of unit-dose packaging suits your needs best and the ability to analyze the alternatives is implicit.
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004349:Drug Packaging / Q000191:economics*; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D014861:Washington