Multidisciplinary quality assessment of a unit dose drug distribution system

A two-part multidisciplinary study was performed at a 531-bed community hospital to evaluate the unit dose drug distribution system. The first study identified the relative incidence of medication discrepancies between nursing administration records and what actually was delivered for the patient. The second study revealed the incidence of scheduled medications which were returned to the pharmacy unused. In both studies, the reason for each disparity was noted and tabulated. The results of each study were reviewed and specific corrective measures were developed for each problem area detected. Follow-up programs were also recommended to determine the effectiveness of the corrective measures. Other hospitals with unit dose systems may find these study results revealing and useful in evaluating their own distribution services.