title: Using multidose eyedrops in a health care setting: a policy and procedural approach to safe and effective treatment of patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Quality and safety of eyedrop use for patients treated in a health care setting play a vital role in the delivery of health care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the development of a policy and procedural approach to the use of multidose eyedrops in multiple patients, approved and accepted by The Joint Commission in compliance with preferred practice standards in ophthalmology, the safe handling and administration of multidose eyedrops, and cost benefits of a multidose eyedrop approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a policy and procedural approach, we petitioned The Joint Commission for approval and evaluated the cost benefits of implementation of a multidose process for eyedrop administration in patients undergoing surgery and treatment at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, Provo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Joint Commission approved our policy and procedural approach, implemented in April 2012. Cost savings to both patients and the facility were significant. Costs to patients undergoing a single cataract operation were decreased as much as $283.85. Costs to the facility were decreased by $330.91 per cataract case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approval of our policy and processes indicates that The Joint Commission validates our policy and its adherence to accepted preferred practice guidelines of safe handling and administration of multidose eyedrops and establishes precedence that may be followed by other eye care facilities and health care organizations in the future. Our policy provides a safe and effective process for administering eyedrop medications to patients as well as controlling excessive health care costs to both patients and health care facilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, Intermountain Healthcare, Provo, Utah2now with Department of Pharmacy Services, Intermountain Medical Center, Intermountain Healthcare, Murray, Utah.
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, Intermountain Healthcare, Provo, Utah.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nahoopii
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, Intermountain Healthcare, Provo, Utah.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000458:organization & administration; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D016527:Drug Costs; D004349:Drug Packaging; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D010606:Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000592:standards; D011786:Quality Control; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions