Medication Managment
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW OF MEDICATION MANAGEMENT
Depending on the size, structure and functions of the health facility, there may be a pharmacy with qualified pharmacists to dispense medication, or medical and nursing personnel may issue certain medications within the service. Whatever the system, the health facility implements systems to ensure, that all pharmaceutical practices are in accordance with current legislation.
Medication management is not only the responsibility of the pharmaceutical service but also of managers and clinical care providers. Medical, nursing, pharmaceutical and administrative personnel participate in a collaborative process to develop and monitor the policies and procedures.
Each health facility has the responsibility of identifying the individuals with the requisite knowledge and experience, who are permitted by laws, regulations or registration to prescribe or order medications. The health facility also identifies any additional individuals, who are permitted to prescribe or order medications in emergency situations. Policies and procedures define the documentation required for medications ordered or prescribed and for verbal medication orders.
Medications depend on suitable storage for their potency. In particular, vaccines which are exposed to high ambient temperatures and/or freezing will quickly lose their potency. The cold chain is the system of transporting and storing vaccines within the safe temperature range of 2 - 8°C. For vaccines to be effective, the cold chain must be maintained from the place of manufacture to the point of administration. Each time that vaccines are exposed to the wrong temperature, their potency is reduced. To know if vaccines are potent at the time of administration, it is important that they be monitored for exposure to heat and cold as they pass through the cold chain. While domestic refrigerators are not designed to meet the
requirements
Depending on the size, structure and functions of the health facility, there may be a pharmacy with qualified pharmacists to dispense medication, or medical and nursing personnel may issue certain medications within the service. Whatever the system, the health facility implements systems to ensure, that all pharmaceutical practices are in accordance with current legislation.
Medication management is not only the responsibility of the pharmaceutical service but also of managers and clinical care providers. Medical, nursing, pharmaceutical and administrative personnel participate in a collaborative process to develop and monitor the policies and procedures.
Each health facility has the responsibility of identifying the individuals with the requisite knowledge and experience, who are permitted by laws, regulations or registration to prescribe or order medications. The health facility also identifies any additional individuals, who are permitted to prescribe or order medications in emergency situations. Policies and procedures define the documentation required for medications ordered or prescribed and for verbal medication orders.
Medications depend on suitable storage for their potency. In particular, vaccines which are exposed to high ambient temperatures and/or freezing will quickly lose their potency. The cold chain is the system of transporting and storing vaccines within the safe temperature range of 2 - 8°C. For vaccines to be effective, the cold chain must be maintained from the place of manufacture to the point of administration. Each time that vaccines are exposed to the wrong temperature, their potency is reduced. To know if vaccines are potent at the time of administration, it is important that they be monitored for exposure to heat and cold as they pass through the cold chain. While domestic refrigerators are not designed to meet the
requirements