[Quality improvement of the filling medication trolleys process, for an unit-dose drug distribution system].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the quality of filling medication trolleys process for an unit-dose drug distribution system, after the implantation of a protocol.


METHODS
Five criteria were defined: four were related to the medication given to the patient, and one criterion was related to the patient's identification. At the same time, it was designed a standardized protocol of filling medication trolleys process and it was evaluated the degree of compliance with the criteria on all the hospitalized patients medication drawers in two clinical units. The fulfilment of the criteria was measured both before and after the implantation of the protocol, for fourteen and seven days respectively.


RESULTS
In the first evaluation the number of errors was 0.84/medication drawer. After the implantation of the protocol, the total number of errors after correction for sample size decreased at 0.22/medication drawer. The degree of compliance improved for all the criteria, and differences were statistically significant for the criteria with most errors.


CONCLUSIONS
The implantation of a protocol significantly improved two of the five quality criteria studied in the filling medication trolleys process. The patient's identification has been revealed as a fundamental aspect of intervention in the dispensation quality.
Lorente
L
L
Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Ctra. Madrid-Cartagena s/n, 30120 El Palmar, Murcia, Spain. laulorfer@yahoo.es
Bovaira
M J
MJ
García
R
R
Ferrer
P
P
Espuny
A
A
D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013030:Spain