2SPD-020 Restructuration and optimisation of the double drawer cupboards distributed in the clinical units of our hospital

Background The double drawer cupboards (DDC) found in the clinical units (CU) allow a better traceability, prevention of medicines expiring and efficiency of peripheral medical stock. Purpose To check and to restructure the DDC storage system in the CU to improve its function with the aim of guaranteeing quality of care and increasing the safety of hospitalised patients. Material and methods A prospective study was carried out over 3 months in a tertiary hospital which has DDC systems in their CU. An information sheet was compiled with data on which was recorded: requests for inclusion and change of place of medication, a list of medications with change in presentation, and broken or lost cards. Results Twenty-three new medicines were included in the DDC after a request from the supervisors of the CU to adapt the contents to actual consumption and speed up the administration of the hospitalised patients’ treatment. The location of 25 medicines was changed, four of which were susceptible to confusion and were found in places nearby, for example diazepam 5 mg and 10 mg tablets. In the rest of the medicines the change of location made the day-to-day work of the CU health personnel easier. Due to the change in presentation of six medicines, we modified 114 labels of the different CU. During the check we came across 74 broken or lost cards which were redone. Two medicines which were officially recognised as a health product by the relevant authorities were withdrawn. With the aim of improving the use of the DDC for the health personnel of the CU, a training programme was carried out reminding them of the correct working of the system, and the list with the cupboards’ contents and position of medicines were updated. Conclusion The new technology applied to the storage of medicines in the CU constitutes a support system which allows for an increase in safety and quality in the whole care process, requiring the involvement of the supervisors of the CU as well as the Pharmacy Service. With this pharmaceutical intervention we reduced the incidence of administration errors, thus increasing the patients’ safety. No conflict of interest