I'm a department of one, so unfortunately, there is no one to take responsibility for it when I'm not here either. I'm finally cross training one of them on the 340B stuff because we were just not doing a 340B order when I wasn't here, which is unacceptable.
My DOP and I finally agreed today on a new ordering procedure, brought on by outrageous over-ordering by techs, especially on Sunday. I am only going to walk the shelves twice a week and the rest of the week I'll only order whats on the want book. I think this will force them to take responsibility for their part in the ordering process, as well as save me some time not having to walk the shelves everyday. I pitched this about 8 months ago and they shot it down, but things have changed some and I think they'll do OK with it now. I'm hoping this will cut down on some of it, especially with the momentum of the inventory being done and me making it very clear that I was very unhappy with our turns and our overstock of inventory for no reason. You've just gotta ride whatever wave you can catch!!!
I, too, just walk the shelves twice a week, Monday and Thursday. Sometimes I just happen to notice something that's low or out on the other days. Don't count on the fact that others will take responsiblity--as I said in another posting, the techs/pharmacists who are conscientious in their own jobs are the ones who make sure I know about high use/odd ball things. Just the way it is, I guess!
I am very fortunate to have a designated tech to check the order in everday. He is also my back-up when I am gone. He does a great job. Since he checks in the order - he has a pretty good idea of what we are using. I also have a designated tech to place the order on Sundays. I have PAR levels on all shelf labels so there is little if any guessing involved.
Name of Facility: Renown Renown Regional Medical Center
I hate taking days off since I know that the other techs are going to take it as a free for all, to load the department with every item that we haven't used in months even years. But of course we need a dozen more then our yearly average on the shelf. LOL> We have tryed to keep all the bins numbered with the amount that should be kept, but that didn't work. I'm taking a vaction in 4 weeks. My first vacation in 3 years. I'm a little worried.
I'm leaving Sunday for a conference and going right to vacation from there so I'll be gone for TWO weeks... I'm already dreading the mess I'll come back to. :(
I got tired of the over ordering and the returns of the items about 10 years ago. I bought a dymo machine that will pring 3/4" labels. I have assigned a par level for each product in my pharmacy with this labeler next to the wholesaler shelf tag re-order number. Every time someone orders when I am not here
they know exactly how many to order. I came up with my par levels by running a average monthly usage report in my wholesaler reporting system. Divide that number by 4 which will give you an average weekly usage. Then I cut that number in half which will give you a 3-4 dayu supply. We receive orders from our wholesaler 6 days a week (Monday-Sat). Then you need to communicate with your staff that orders what the numbers are for next to the product #s.I have selected 4 techs on my staff to do the ordering. This has cut down on this problem immensely.
I have two techs that have ability to order, but generally depend on the one. She is good about not over-ordering and since she also refills pyxis, she is more in tune with what is being used. McKesson has asset-management, which will give a reorder point and quantity, so I try and convince who ever is ordering to use it. The Pharmacists only scan items (if we need or not!!!!)
I've just begun training a tech to be my backup when I'm gone and she's also our Pyxis tech, we had the same thinking as you... that'd she'd be good to know whats moving and whats not.