Labeling multi-dose meds for home use

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Karen Thompson
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Joined: 05/03/2009 - 02:30
Labeling multi-dose meds for home use

Is anyone labeling their multidose meds with an outpatient label at the time of initial inpatient dispensing? For example, an Advair inhaler would have a label indicating name/address/phone number of the hospital pharmacy, "Take as directed on Discharge Medication Instructions", etc... I like this idea because it improves the transition to outpatient care and reduces pharmaceutical waste. We have asked nursing staff to send these products back to Rx prior to discharge so we can apply an outpatient label when needed, but that workflow is usually not smoooth because the pt is ready to walk out the door. A downside is that the label won't contain inpatient instructions for use for the nurse. However, those instructions often change and we do not apply an updated label when that happens, so there there is potential for error if the RN follows the instructions on the label. Thoughts?