is mainly used in small hospitals, where the medicines are provide on the medicines need of individual patients and his/her prescriptions.

this system is generally used by the small and/or private hospital because of the reduced manpower requirement and the desirability for individualized service.

Inherent in this system is the possible delay in obtaining the required medication and the increase in cost to the patient.

 

All prescriptions are directly checked by the pharmacist.

Medication errors could be avoided.

It facilitates interaction between the pharmacist, the doctors and nurses.

Reduced man power is required.Close control on inventory is possible.

It has a advantage over other system that every medicine is delivered under the care of pharmacist, so very efficient care is provided to all the patients.

Difficulty of dispensing in absence of a pharmacist.

This system cannot be used in big hospitals.

Medicine cost may increase.

Refillable prescriptions may be reordered for patients by submitting a completed LHS-181 prescription order form that also includes the prescription number in the designated box on the order form.

By completing a prescription order form (LHS-181). The LHS-181 includes space for three separate prescriptions. An LHS-181 must be completed for new prescriptions even if the prescription has been written on the prescriber's prescription blank.

Prescription orders may also be:

mailedfaxedand may also be telephoned to the central pharmacy

(this should be restricted to immediate needs that require special instructions, attention and/or handling.)

When the prescription order is being mailed to the central pharmacy, the LHS-181 is completed and the prescriber's original signed prescription blank is attached to the LHS-181.

prior to faxing the prescription order, it should contain the:

▪ prescriber's signature, ▪ state pharmacy regulations require that the following

information be included within the body of the signed prescription

▪ The initials of the person faxing the document▪ And the date that the document being faxed.

If the drug is for a Schedule II-V controlled substance, the prescriber's DEA number must be included on the prescription order that contains the prescriber's signature.

When prescriptions are dispensed by the central pharmacy, a copy of the LHS-181 is returned to the health department with the patient's medication. A white sticker containing the prescription number, the date dispensed, the cost of the medication, and the number of remaining refills is attached to the LHS-181. 

Prescriptions are normally dispensed and returned to health departments within one to two business days of the date that the orders are received in the central pharmacy. When there is an immediate need, health departments may request next day delivery which insures delivery the next business day; however, this special handling increases the shipping charge.

Health department personnel should document the receipt of medications for individual patients. These medications should be stored in a secure area to await delivery to the patient. When the medication is delivered to the patient, a notation should be made in the patient's record indicating the date of delivery.

Where applicable, payment for medication is handled in accordance with the health department's policies and procedures.

Unit-dose distribution represents a significant refinement of the individual prescription order system and is considered to be the safest.