Unit-dose systems: drug waste and drug processing time in a long-term care facility.

: This study compares the effectiveness of two drug distribution systems--a conventional prescription and a modified unit-dose system--in a small, rural, long-term care facility ( LTCF ). The 72-hour modified unit-dose system was superior in minimizing drug wastage and the time required for drug processing by nursing personnel. Drug waste was reduced by 64% in dollar value; time for drug processing in the LTCF was reduced by 46% on a daily basis. These data are consistent with three early studies evaluating two such systems in a LTCF and conflicts with one recent report.