title: [Critical points in the storage and expiry of drugs. Improvements implemented by healthcare units in the accreditation process].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Measures for controlling the expiry date and storage conditions of the drugs is a standard used in the accreditation program. The present paper has two principal aims: to identify the critical points in the clinical units evaluated, and to find out the different actions for improvement introduced in these areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive-retrospective study was used. For analysing the critical points, the units that did not achieve the referred standard (n=64) during the accreditation process were selected. All the information analysed on the units (n=48) that had introduced improvements was obtained from the computer application that supports the accreditation processes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The critical points (drug expiry date and storage conditions, were found in 32.98% of the units evaluated. These were mainly due to associated with lack of responsibility, absence of refrigeration control records and standard procedures. The 241 improvement actions made in the 48 units analysed were recorded in the computer program. The deficiencies were resolved, which enabled them to achieve accreditation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The actions introduced to resolve the critical points regarding drug storage and expiry in clinical units, can be easily implemented by other healthcare units in order to achieve accreditation.
authors.affiliation: Agencia de Calidad Sanitaria de Andalucía, Sevilla, España. mmar.castellano@juntadeandalucia.es
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Castellano-Zurera
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Núñez-García
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carrasco-Peralta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres-Olivera
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage / Q000592:standards*; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain