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Few data are available on the use and consequences of decentralized automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) in institutional settings.

This descriptive study examined compliance with published guidelines on the implementation of decentralized ADCs. The primary objective was to evaluate overall compliance, as well as compliance with specific steps in the medication cycle. The study was carried out at the Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine, a 500-bed mother-and-child hospital. The 2008 guidelines of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (US) concerning the safe use of decentralized ADCs and the associated self-assessment tool (2009) were used to evaluate compliance at 30 days and at 120 days after implementation.

From November 2009 to April 2010, 7 decentralized ADCs were brought into service at the CHU Sainte-Justine. Overall compliance with published guidelines increased from 66% to 74% between January and April 2010. For each process related to the safe use of the ADCs, the criteria were briefly described, along with the non-compliance components related to technological or organizational aspects of implementation. For each component for which practice was noncompliant with guidelines, the actions required to modify the equipment (i.e., technological aspects) were determined and conveyed to the manufacturer; similarly, modes of use requiring modification (i.e., organizational aspects) were determined and conveyed to the institution.

This study has described the compliance of practices at the CHU Sainte-Justine with published guidelines of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. The use of published guidelines can help to guide both the technological and organizational aspects of implementing decentralized ADCs. [Publisher's translation].