Drug dispensing systems

ritarunningfeet · Feb 8, 2007

Where do you keep your meds now? We use a pixis in the er I work in and it really doesn't slow us down at all, granted the pt name is in the pixis, as soon as they are registered. So I just sign in. I like it because I don't have to do narc counts at every shift change. When we have something bad coming in they are a doe chart before they even hit our doors and we can pull needed drugs or intubation kits before they pt even arrives, and then the doe is matched later after all the hub-bub is done.

gaspassah · Feb 8, 2007

i think they are fine, ive used them in the past. only thing is make sure your emergency drugs are in an open drawer for easy access.

mkmdbm7 · Feb 9, 2007

Hi, Thanks for responding-

I have used systems like this before in other areas of nursing myself, and I thought that using them was fine as a staff nurse.

I pose this question specically to CRNA's who use it in the OR....

Thanks:)

CRNAGAL · Feb 9, 2007

We have a pyxis in each OR and they also function as our anesthesia cart, hold supplies, etc. I unlock the cart by signing in and with a finger print. That opens all the drawers except narcs. I have access to all the meds without having to sign them out to a patient first. If I don't know the patients name yet and I need a controlled substance, I can check the drugs out under "my items" and issue them to the patient later. I can add a patient to the system as well. When we changed to pyxis I was hesitant, but now really like it. Hope this helps.

heartICU · Feb 11, 2007

I am an OR manager for two small hospitals, and we have a pharmacist who wants to get automated drug dispensing machines for the OR's for anesthesia drugs.
I do not think this will be received well at all.....I am thinking when you need a drug FAST, having to go through the process of inputting a patient name and number to a vending machine could be a detriment-but, I see the value of this type of system as well.
Does anybody use a system like this?
What are your thoughts about this?
Thanks for the input!
Kathy

Any drugs that we need quickly, we usually have out already (we get it out in preparation for the case). We have a pyxis in several of our fast-turnover rooms, and it is very helpful.