Pharmacy Policy: Computer Shutdown at Hospital’s Pharmacy

What is computer shutdown at hospital’s pharmacy?

Computer shutdown at hospital’s pharmacy is part of the pharmacy policy and procedures.

As usual with most of the policies sample posted here, there is some default data that should be listed in the policy header and footer. Below are some of the info that you need to include in your computer shutdown at the hospital’s pharmacy header:

• Hospital name, obviously.
• Pharmacy department operational policy and procedure, this header just to notify the reader that the following policy belongs to which department.
• Policy code or Number, for filing/indexing purposes.
• Edition Number, same purpose as above.
• The title of the policy, in our case; would be Computer Shutdown at Hospital’s Pharmacy.
• Important dates [date reviewed, approved date, effective date, and due for review date].
• Applies to [department] in this case it should be pharmacy department
• And last but not least, you’ll mention the nature of the policy, whether it’s going to be multidisciplinary or department-specific. (DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC)

Computer Shutdown at Hospital’s Pharmacy Policy

Definitions

Read moreHow to Write Pharmacy Mission and Vision Policy

This policy applies to the pharmacy at the hospital.

Purpose

To set up a procedure whereby medications are dispensed efficiently and accurately with the greatest consideration of patient care and safety in the case of computer shutdown.

Policy

1. The Pharmacist on duty shall call IT department immediately in order to resolve such break down. The standard medical prescription/order is prepared and initiated by a pharmacy technician or a pharmacist.

Read moreHow to Write Pharmacy Goals and Objectives Policy

N.B. He/She annotates on the prescription the quantities, prices of dispensed medications and name of medication dispensed (in case of substitution).

2. All prescription/order medications should be manually labeled when there is a shutdown of the computer system.
3. All prescription medications should be entered in the computer immediately after the system is back to normal operation.
4. All computer entries should be checked by the pharmacy supervisor.

Procedures and responsibilities

1.  Pharmacist should ask the patient about his/her last medications dispensed and ask about other information e.g. payment type (credit or cash if there is any cash collection).
2. Manual labeling should be done by a pharmacist or Technician and checked by another pharmacist before dispensing.
3. All labels should be written by legible handwriting.
4. All items in each prescription should be manually labeled by Pharmacist or Technician and checked and signed by another pharmacist.
5. The manual label must bear the following information:

• Name of drug (generic and brand).
• Strength of drug.
• Dose of drug.
• Instruction for use in Arabic or English.
• Date of dispensing.
• Patient name and medical record number.
• Treating Physician name.
• Special auxiliary labels.
• Location of their pharmacy (D).
• Prepared by.
• Checked by.

You’re almost done and the computer shutdown at hospital’s pharmacy policy is almost ready, what’s remaining is just a few basic policy layout filling.

• References.
• Revisions: Revised as per timescale.
• Distribution: Here you should mention where this policy will be sent, and which departments will get a notification for it:
  • Medical/Hospital Director.
  • Pharmay Department.
  • Signed Originals are maintained in Manual & Indexing Office.

The policy is now finished, and it’s time to get proper signatures, whether your hospital is implementing electronic signatures, or manual signs and stamps.

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