After-Hours Medication Provision

Abstract: The pharmacist controls the medication use process.

Our After-Hours Medication Provision service uses the Envision Imaging System.^‡ This service involves viewing an image of any medication prepared pursuant to an order by nursing in the hospital pharmacy. Medications are thus checked by a pharmacist prior to removal in a very effective and simple manner.

The February 2006 issue of Joint Commission Perspectives on Patient Safety, a JCAHO newsletter, discusses imaging in the absence of a pharmacist as an example of a great technological opportunity. The Envision Imaging System^‡ is the type of innovative, low cost technology solution that make the most sense for smaller facilities. Envision Imaging System^‡ has great cost benefit, simplicity, and capability.

The use of Envision Imaging System^‡ for After-Hours Medication Provision ensures the availability of a qualified pharmacist to answer questions and provides for a consistent quality of care during all hours.

Additional Benefits:

Improved Patient Safety

• Error reduction of removals from pharmacy
• Elimination of unsupervised medication removal from pharmacy

Pharmacist, Nursing and Administration Satisfaction

• Increased quality of patient care
• Greater continuity of care with extended pharmacist availability
• Cost containment
• Nursing staff spends less time on medication related issues

Permanent work record

• Better record keeping
• Again improves patient safety