Purpose

To evaluate the management of emergency drugs in a mother-child teaching hospital.

Methods

A physical inventory of all the resuscitation carts, emergency carts, and emergency boxes was taken. Fifteen compliance criteria were established to evaluate partial trays of emergency medications. The contents of full and partial emergency medication trays and boxes were revised, and an improved process was implemented based on a review of the literature. The research team included 2 pharmacists, 1 anesthetist, 1 intensivist, 1 emergency doctor, 1 nurse, and 1 research assistant.

Results

Before the harmonization process, there were 11 full resuscitation carts with 48 items and 30 partial emergency carts with an average item count of 15.4 ± standard deviation 4.4, as well as 16 pediatric boxes and 3 emergency boxes in pediatrics and obstetrics, respectively. During the evaluation process, 1,911 distribution units were checked, 2.5% of which had expired. Following the process there were 14 identical resuscitation carts with 43 items and 25 emergency carts with 21 items.

Conclusion

There are few examples of steps that can be taken to evaluate and update the management of emergency medications in health care facilities. This evaluative study outlines an approach that entailed taking a physical inventory, evaluating the process, and improving the management model within a tertiary care university hospital center. A review of the new process will be performed in 12 months' time.