I'd like to know if there is a protocol at other facilities for situations like this. Currently, there is none in place for mine.
Here's the scenario. Patient "Ed" is admitted from home with a bag full of bottled RX's. Some are controlled. At my facility, all we do is label them and keep them in the med room w/the other small belongings (i.e. glasses, dentures, etc). They are not locked away but merely keep in a bin. Apparently, when discharged, "Ed's" full bottle of Ativan went home with him empty. Mind you, we don't use patient's own meds (unless they are on a different formulary the hospital doesn't have).
How does your facility document meds that come in from outside? Where do you keep them? How do you document when they are sent home with the patient (given they continue on those meds)?
We prefer that the family take them home unless we don't carry it. Then it gets sent to pharmacy for verification and we keep them in the pyxis, if they are controlled drugs in a pie wedge of the pyxis. If we carry the meds but they can't be taken home we send them to pharmacy in a pharmacy deposit envelope. Most of the time they aren't narcotics. I don't think I have ever had to send an narcs down to pharmacy for deposit.
All patients do need an accurate outpatient medication history on admission or asap. I believe this is a JACHO standard.
RNKPCE
1,170 Posts
We prefer that the family take them home unless we don't carry it. Then it gets sent to pharmacy for verification and we keep them in the pyxis, if they are controlled drugs in a pie wedge of the pyxis. If we carry the meds but they can't be taken home we send them to pharmacy in a pharmacy deposit envelope. Most of the time they aren't narcotics. I don't think I have ever had to send an narcs down to pharmacy for deposit.
All patients do need an accurate outpatient medication history on admission or asap. I believe this is a JACHO standard.