1. Chapter 13 Pgs. 351 - 369

2.  Listing of goods or items that a business will use in its normal operation.  Each tech is REQUIRED to master the specific inventory system at their workplace.  Many hospitals, HMO’s, insurers, and other health care systems maintain a formulary (a list of approved medications to be used in their system).  Can have an open or closed formulary. Inventory

3.  Participants in the inventory process:  The Pharmacy  Wholesalers  Drug Manufacturers  The Government Inventory Environment

4.  Pharmacies use a Perpetual Inventory System  Perpetual Inventory System maintains continuous record of all items; required for Schedule II substances.  Monitoring of drugs helps prevent spoilage of drugs, monitors turnover rate, and market availability of drugs.  Tools that can be used for inventory: point of sale (POS), order entry devices, and automated reports.  Reorder points = minimum and maximum stock levels Inventory Systems

5. Options available that computers can assist with are label printing, billing and pricing with insurance, use bar codes to check medication identifications, print medication information, automatic prescription filling, and manage inventory. Some systems can calculate weight-based dosing and provide disease specific alerts based on lab values. Computers & Inventory

6.  Entering correct information is essential; most information is manually entered so there is always a possibility of an error. When reports are printed, must be read so errors can be detected.

7.  Multiple types of ADS; each whose functions vary slightly. Some are designed for retail while others are for hospitals.  Different system names : Parata Max, Pyxis, AcuDose, OmniCell, MedSelect, and Homerus. Automated Dispensing Systems (ADS)

8.  Involves automated and manual activities.  Much of the work is done by computer systems, but manual checking, editing, and confirmation are essential.  Order Details: shipping, credits/ returns, receiving chemotherapy drugs, receiving, and order/receiving controlled substances.  Need to know forms to go with order details. Ordering

9.  Most medications received in bulk stock bottles whose labels have FDA required information.  Hospitals generally use unit-dose packaging.  USP and state laws provide medication repacking regulations. Required to use manufacturer’s original expiration date or a date no more than 12 months from when the medication is repackaged – whichever is shorter. Stocking & Storing

10.  Most drugs are kept at room temperature (59 – 86 degrees F); not below unless stated by manufacturer.  Refrigerated meds should be maintained at 36 – 46 degrees F.  Bar codes includes the NDC which in turn identifies product and package size.

11. Physical organization: oldest meds should be dispensed first, enough space between meds to minimize breakage and prevent selecting wrong med, and drugs with similar names should not be on the shelf next to each other. Some high cost meds are on consignment (pharmacy does not pay for them until a patient purchases them). Controlled Substances can either be stocked separately in a locked cabinet or with noncontrolled drugs. Must be continually monitored and documented, records kept for two years unless state law requires longer.