LTC med pass from PYXIS?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

My facility will shortly be doing away with med carts, and the LPNs will have to do the entire med pass from a stationary PYXIS machine next to the dinning room. That's anywhere from 35-42 residents, all from a PYXIS. The logistics boggle my mind. We've been hearing roomers about this for months, but I assumed the new PYXIS machines would simply be supplemental, a place to get meds that we ran out of in the cart. But, no, we will be doing the entire pass directly from the PYXIS. Any other LTC facilities do this? It seems impossible.

I had clinicals in a rehab facility with about 50 patients and all meds were from pixis, although the average patient only had around 5-6 meds. It's possible. It will take some time to get used to for sure and at first there will be a lot of waiting/late meds but once everyone gets used to it, it shouldn't be too bad.

For LTC? That sounds like a disaster. Good luck!

Specializes in retired LTC.

Does your pharmacy consultant agree?

having worked LTC/SNF. I can only say F... That... S...

The guy who presented it to us at the meeting works for the PYXIS company..... so, yeah.Our pharmacist (we have an in-house pharmacist) supports it.

I had clinicals in a rehab facility with about 50 patients and all meds were from pixis, although the average patient only had around 5-6 meds. It's possible. It will take some time to get used to for sure and at first there will be a lot of waiting/late meds but once everyone gets used to it, it shouldn't be too bad.
15 meds is more our average. Did one nurse pass to all 50 patients?
Specializes in Correctional, QA, Geriatrics.

Honestly it sounds absolutely insane given the average number of meds per resident, the number of residents to give meds to, the frequency of med admin times and the traffic jam as 2. 3 or more nurses and med aides all try to access the machine at the same time. I can also see that the machine will have to be refilled multiple times a week. Depending on your state Brandon that restocking can usually only be done by a pharmacy tech or pharmacist. They certainly cost more money than paying a delivery driver plus the fact that the machine will be off limits while the pharmacy restocks unless they plan to send a tech in the dead of night. Let's also not forget the times the machine requires a second signature or a supervisor over ride for a med given outside the normal dosage parameters or frequency. It could conceivably be doable if there was more than one machine for the facility and it wasn't being placed in the highest traffic area in the building i.e. outside the dining room.

Brandon is everything going to be stocked in the machine? All eye drops, inhalers, nebs, insulin and other injectables? I ask because that is going to cause a real mess when those lovely little bottles and inhalers and vials get stuck in the drawers (which happens often enough to be a real concern). Dude I totally feel your pain. Makes me grateful to only consult in facilities and not work in them.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I could see it...the residents eye drops, inhalers, and insulins treatment creams will be in a drawer that is specifically for the pt. The meds will be pulled and in stock; no chance of borrowing and running out, meds in unit dose packages; no risk for errors in pulling a 9P med at 9A, etc.

Pull the meds, and go. :yes:

Specializes in retired LTC.

WOW!!! I can only imagine the absolute chaos if Pyxis breaks down esp from the heavy usage.

Honestly it sounds absolutely insane given the average number of meds per resident, the number of residents to give meds to, the frequency of med admin times and the traffic jam as 2. 3 or more nurses and med aides all try to access the machine at the same time. I can also see that the machine will have to be refilled multiple times a week. Depending on your state Brandon that restocking can usually only be done by a pharmacy tech or pharmacist. They certainly cost more money than paying a delivery driver plus the fact that the machine will be off limits while the pharmacy restocks unless they plan to send a tech in the dead of night. Let's also not forget the times the machine requires a second signature or a supervisor over ride for a med given outside the normal dosage parameters or frequency. It could conceivably be doable if there was more than one machine for the facility and it wasn't being placed in the highest traffic area in the building i.e. outside the dining room.

Brandon is everything going to be stocked in the machine? All eye drops, inhalers, nebs, insulin and other injectables? I ask because that is going to cause a real mess when those lovely little bottles and inhalers and vials get stuck in the drawers (which happens often enough to be a real concern). Dude I totally feel your pain. Makes me grateful to only consult in facilities and not work in them.

All good questions, but I don't really know the answers yet. We have a ton of inhalers. And eye gtts. And Miralax. Time will tell.

What happens when I get all of someone's pills pulled in a cup, only to find them on the bed-pain? Or in an activity? What do I do with the meds I pulled? And going from the Pyxis to a resident's room and then back to the Pyxis again 'cause they want a PRN pill.... the Pyxis works on hospital floors because they only have 7 or 8 pts. In LTC, all the back and forth will be a nightmare.

As for refills, we have an in-house pharmacy, so that will make re-stocking the machines easier.

I agree with the poster who said "F that S." All I can say is "Wow." Good luck. I hope you find others who have done it and can offer tips. I can only imagine the extra miles per day you will spend walking from Pyxis to resident, and back and forth down halls....yikes. I simply don't understand how time will allow it. There must be a way. Hope you find it.

+ Add a Comment