I'm curious as to what people with automated dispensing machines (pyxis etc.) do with all of the inventory that is in those units. Do you add it to your physical inventory, or figure that once it leaves the department, it belongs to patient?
No, unfortunately. It's still considered stock until it's charged to a patient, since the theory behind automated dispensing machines is that there is 100% accountability.
And it is considered when you're calculating turns. I think they skew the numbers to reflect Pyxis inventory.
Inventory in the pyxis like Mike said is our stock. We run a hospital wide report and then punch in the numbers..Hard labor but I wish Cardinal could figure out a way to pull numbers from there....
Name of Facility: 222 bed
City, State: Acute care teaching hospital Trauma II center
Munira, what we did, since we count on the '100% accountability' claim is run the report and give it to the inventory people. THEY plug in the numbers. How far off could it be if you're keeping a lid on the stock?
Mike
I use the their handhelds---Made them send these to me so it makes life easier--The worst part is to get the pharmacy ready for the inventory--have the correct bar codes is a wonderful thing---Now that most meds have barcodes on them it makes life even easier. What I also do--for the pills--I cut out the bar code of the brand I purchase and stick it in the back of the bin. This makes life a wee-bit easier!