medication administration in the OR

[bjsmsn]

I need suggestions or current practice methods on another issue. Our hospital currently does not have a Pyxis system and the pharmacy is currently investigating having one installed. But I'm told that Pyxis is not functional in the operating room. I am interested in what is being done in other operating rooms and what works for you. We have an open cart with our floor stock of meds. And some have come up missing. So we are looking to increase security and effeciency of the system. I am open to suggestions to other processes. Thanks.

[shodobe]

Your pharmacy has no clue about the OR! We have had one for, I think, 4 years and we wouldn't have it any other way. Anesthesia can get their own drugs! It works very efficient and is very worthwhile. Tell your pharmacy to give it a try and contact other hospitals where it is being used in the OR. Mike

[Winknme]

We had a SureMed in the last place I worked. And it worked well. It dispensed "anesthesia kits" with all of the drugs used by the docs - if they needed more they got another kit - rare occurence. And at the end of the day they wasted what was opened and put the unopened vials back into the SureMed to be repackaged by pharmacy. Worked great.

[carcha]

Can someone clarify all this for me?. We just have this huge pharmacy within the OR with wall to wall and floor to ceiling drugs from where we help ourselves whenever we need anything. Your systems sound cool.

[DNRme]

When Pyxsis was first installed in the OR where I work a few years ago, you could hear the whining for miles (me included). "We don't have time for that nonsense" Now I wouldn't want to work without it. No more charging for meds, no more counting!!! You can get all of the meds for your case at once, you usually know what you will need. We also almost never run out of anything anymore because Pharmacy knows when we are getting low on a particular item. LOVE IT!

[mcmike55]

BJS:

I totally agree with the pyxis crowd. Right after the first of the year, I found out there was a pyxis sitting unused on a closed med/surg unit in our hospital.

To make a long story short, we got it moved to the OR, filled it with our stuff, and life is good!!!

Mostly we keep antibiotice, locals etc in it. I was taught to re-fill it at the end of the day, if I can. Otherwise pharmacy does it.

We also have one in PACU, ED and of course on the floors.

We love it!! There was a bit of breaking in, meds not in there we needed, nurses having trouble loggin in, etc.

But I will admit, the learning curve was much shorter than I thought.

As others have said, no charging, no restocking (mostly). And we now have all our meds locked up after hours when we aren't there, but they are quickly available in an emergency!!

Keep after your pharmacy. There is some bucks outlay, but it's worth it!!

[Chrislynn2003]

We just got Pyxis a few months ago. At first everyone started complaining, saying that it would take too long to get all the meds they wanted, waiting in line, that it's too far away,etc. But it's actually not that badl it's much safer than having the drugs exposed to just anyone. It may take a little longer; I normally know what I need for the case before the case. I am used to it now and hardly ever have to wait in line to get the meds. In my mind, it's patient safety first.

Christine