Utilizing Unit-Dose Dispensing Controls in the Small Hospital

This paper describes a "non-unit-dose" approach to unit-dose dispensing in a small general hospital having limitations in its pharmacy personnel and floor space. A medication cart and portable patient drug administration profile are utilized to provide a method of drug dose preparation and charting at the patient's bedside. Employment of this system has resulted in savings in nursing time and has eliminated much of the error potential inherent in the use of "med cards" and "med cups."