title: An exchange cart supply-distribution system employed on an institution-wide basis.
abstract: This paper describes a drug distribution system developed for replenishment of stock supplies for hospital patient-care units, ambulatory care areas, and clinical support service areas. The method employed, a modified exchange cart system in which duplicate sets of supplies are exchanged at regular and predetermined intervals, utilizes unit-of-use packaging whenever feasible and is an extension of our centralized unit dose drug distribution system. Various supply-distribution techniques and inventory surveillance and control techniques, as well as cost identification and charge recovery procedures, are discussed.
mesh_terms: D003237:Connecticut; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006750:Hospital Distribution Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics