Title 14. DRUG DISTRIBUTION IN THE HOSPITAL.pdf ✅

PHARMD GURU Page 1 DRUG DISTRIBUTION:  Drug distribution is defined as, “Physical transfer of drugs from storage area in the hospital to the patient’s bedside”.  Drug distribution system in India is still in the phase of archaeology.  The overall drug distribution and utilization process in the hospital involves an infinite number of procedures, personnel, departments, equipments and storage facilities.  In small hospitals, drugs are obtained from medical stores of the hospitals and are supplied to the wards, operational theatres, X-Ray and other clinics for the treatment of indoor patients (as well as out-patient dispensaries) by indent system “i.e. on written requisition slips from wards and theatres by nursing staff”.  Each ward in the hospital, regardless of its size or specialty, has a supply of drugs stored in the medicine cabinet.  In the hospitals managed by the Central or State Governments, this aspect of pharmacy services like maintenance and supervision of medical stores and the dispensing and distribution of drugs iss under the supervision of a Junior Medical Officer of the hospital.  This involves two types of drug distribution. They are:  In-patient distribution.  Out-patient distribution. INPATIENT DISTRIBUTION:  The drug distribution to the in patient department can be carried out from the outpatient dispensing area.  The patients involved in dispensing the drugs for outpatient can dispense drugs for in patients too.  If the work load seems to be heavy then additional employees can be employed. This method is found to be more economical. DRUG DISTRIBUTION IN THE HOSPITAL
PHARMD GURU Page 2  The pharmacist employed for drug distribution to the in patient wards should be well skilled and qualified staff. OUTPATIENT DISTRIBUTION:  Outpatient refers to the patients not occupying beds in hospital or in clinics, health centers and other places where out patients usually go for health care.  No medicaments should be issued without the prescription.  After the issue has been made the quantities supplied must be recorded.  Medicines are given to the out-patients from the pharmacy situated in the outpatient block.  In short form the outpatient department was called as OPD.  The patient with minor and common illness goes to OPD. TYPES OF DRUG DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS: There are five different systems in use for drug distribution in hospitals: 1) Individual prescription order system. 2) Complete floor stock system. 3) Combination of individual prescription and floor stock system. 4) Unit dose system. INDIVIDUAL PRESCRIPTION ORDER SYSTEM:  It is a type of drug distribution system wherein physician writes the prescription for individual patient who obtains the drugs prescribed from any medical store or hospital dispensary by paying own charges.  This system is generally used by the small and/or private hospitals because of the reduced man power requirements and desirability for individualized service.  Inherent in this system is the possible delay in obtaining the required medicine and the high cost to the patient.  At the same time, there are definite advantages: 1) All medication orders are directly reviewed by the pharmacist.
PHARMD GURU Page 3 2) It provides the interaction of pharmacist – doctor, nurse and the patient. 3) It provides clear control of inventory. ADVANTAGES:  All medication orders are directly reviewed by pharmacist.  It provides the interaction of pharmacist, doctor, nurse & the patient.  It provides clear inventory control. DISADVANTAGES:  Wrong errors, illegible writings of the physicians. Physician may write high economic drugs in the prescription or cost effective drugs. COMPLETE FLOOR STOCK SYSTEM:  Drugs are given to the patient from the nursing station& the pharmacy supplies from the drug store.  The way of floor-stock distribution includes 2 types: There are: 1) Charged floor-stock system. 2) Uncharged floor-stock system. 1. CHARGED FLOOR STOCK SYSTEM:  In this method, medicines which are stocked in the nursing stations all the times& charged to the patients account after administered to them.  The method of dispensing in this system includes:  The patient is charged for every single dose administered to him.  Selection of these drugs in various wards is decided by PTC.  Once the floor-stock list is prepared it is the responsibility of the hospital pharmacist to make the drugs available.
PHARMD GURU Page 4 2. NON CHARGED FLOOR-STOCK SYSTEM:  This system includes the medicaments placed in the nursing station that are used by all the patients on the floor.  There shall be no direct charge from the patients account.  This is divided in to two methods. They are: 1) Drug basket method. 2) Mobile dispensary unit. DRUG BASKET METHOD:  Nurses fills a requisition form for the delivery of drugs at their floor.  When there is an empty container, the nurses place it in the drug basket.  Once the basket is completed, delivery of drugs is done via messanger services.  Alternatively mobile dispensary may be utilized. MOBILE DISPENSARY UNIT:  It is specially made up of stainless steel.  60 inches height.  48 inches wide & 25 inches deep.  It is mounted on bottom tyres. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHARGED FLOOR-STOCK & NON FLOOR-STOCK SYSTEM CHARGED FLOOR-STOCK NON CHARGED FLOOR-STOCK SYSTEM The charges are made into the patients account after they have been administered. The drugs are not made in the account directly even after the drug has been administered. Every dose of the drug administered to the patients is charged. Charges are made indirectly to the patient.