Implementation of an Automated Dispensing Cabinet Stewardship Program at a Tertiary Academic Medical Center

Abstract

Automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) use within hospitals is designed to replace or partially replace medication cabinets or carts to allow for a more decentralized model of medication distribution. This project was designed to improve medication delivery by decreasing the burden of dispensing patient-specific medications from a centralized inpatient pharmacy while decreasing overall inventory cost. This single-center pilot analysis evaluated ADC inventory optimization in a mixed medical population. Data collected included inventory cost on ADC, medications removed from or added to ADC, patient-specific medications sent from central pharmacy, and the rate of medication stock outs on ADC.

Keywords

administration cost cost-containment economics drug distribution

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References

Institute for Safe Medication Practices. Guidance on the interdisciplinary safe use of automated dispensing cabinets. http://www.ismp.org/tools/guidelines/ADC_Guidelines_final.pdf. Published 2008. Accessed March 13, 2014.

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