Medication Storage - Concentrated Electrolytes - Storage in Patient Care Areas
Does The Joint Commission allow concentrated electrolytes to be stored outside of the pharmacy in patient care areas?
Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.
Under limited circumstances, it may be necessary to store concentrated electrolytes in specific patient care areas. Such decisions should be based on the results of a robust risk assessment followed by implementation of appropriate safeguards that address all identified risk points. As a general rule, concentrated electrolytes are not be kept in patient care areas where access is not urgently needed.
The foundation for conducting a proactive risk assessment would be based on the services provided and patient population served in each respective patient care area being considered for storage of such solutions. If it is determined that they are required, leadership would need to designate the appropriate locations for storage (i.e. emergency carts, automated medication dispensing cabinets, dialysis unit, etc.) as well as which concentrated electrolytes would be appropriate. The population served by each storage device or storage location should also be evaluated as such storage areas may serve a mixed patient population.
A proactive risk assessment examines a process in detail including sequencing of events, actual and potential risks, and failure or points of vulnerability and that prioritizes, through a logical process, areas for improvement based on the actual or potential impact (that is, criticality) of care, treatment, or services provided.
The introductory section of the Leadership (LD) chapter provides an example of a pro-active risk assessment model that an organization may use. However, this specific approach is not mandated as there are other risk assessment tools available that may better meet the needs of the organization. Other examples may include a root cause analysis, failure mode and effect analysis, plan/do/check/act process, etc., or combinations and variations.
When an organization determines that concentrated electrolytes will be stored outside of the pharmacy, appropriate safeguards must be developed to prevent inadvertent administration of these medications without proper dilution. Examples of strategies to prevent errors may include:
Under limited circumstances, it may be necessary to store concentrated electrolytes in specific patient care areas. Such decisions should be based on the results of a robust risk assessment followed by implementation of appropriate safeguards that address all identified risk points. As a general rule, concentrated electrolytes are not be kept in patient care areas where access is not urgently needed.
Concentrated electrolytes may be described as solutions manufactured and distributed with the intention of being diluted prior to administration. Examples include but not limited to: Hypertonic Premix Saline Solution 3%; Sodium Chloride 23.4% solution; Potassium Chloride 2mEq/ml, Sodium Bicarbonate 8.4%, and Magnesium Sulfate 50%. When these solutions are available on a patient care unit, the risk is significant that accidental administration may occur without first diluting, especially during an emergency. Examples of clinical areas where stocking concentrated electrolytes may be indicated include: crash carts located in intensive care units, the emergency department, procedural or interventional suites, emergency response medication boxes, cardioplegia solutions in the operating room for use during cardiac surgery, substance abuse detox programs, etc.
The foundation for conducting a proactive risk assessment would be based on the services provided and patient population served in each respective patient care area being considered for storage of such solutions. If it is determined that they are required, leadership would need to designate the appropriate locations for storage (i.e. emergency carts, automated medication dispensing cabinets, dialysis unit, etc.) as well as which concentrated electrolytes would be appropriate. The population served by each storage device or storage location should also be evaluated as such storage areas may serve a mixed patient population.
A proactive risk assessment examines a process in detail including sequencing of events, actual and potential risks, and failure or points of vulnerability and that prioritizes, through a logical process, areas for improvement based on the actual or potential impact (that is, criticality) of care, treatment, or services provided.
The introductory section of the Leadership (LD) chapter provides an example of a pro-active risk assessment model that an organization may use. However, this specific approach is not mandated as there are other risk assessment tools available that may better meet the needs of the organization. Other examples may include a root cause analysis, failure mode and effect analysis, plan/do/check/act process, etc., or combinations and variations.
When an organization determines that concentrated electrolytes will be stored outside of the pharmacy, appropriate safeguards must be developed to prevent inadvertent administration of these medications without proper dilution. Examples of strategies to prevent errors may include:
- Segregation from all other medications stored in the device or area.
- Determine an appropriate par level of the medication so that the amount maintained on the unit does not exceed the amount necessary to meet patient care needs over a limited time period (for example, one day).
- A system for regularly checking and restocking to par level by pharmacy staff. .
- Prominent warning labels applied to the drug container.
- Restricted access to concentrated electrolyte medications and solutions to specially qualified staff.
Additional resources
Manual:
Office Based Surgery
Chapter:
Medication Management MM
Last reviewed by Standards Interpretation: October 19, 2021
Represents the most recent date that the FAQ was reviewed (e.g. annual review).
First published date: September 25, 2017
This Standards FAQ was first published on this date.
This page was last updated on November 15, 2023
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