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What You Need to Know About Proper Medical Storage

Posted by Robert Walthall on Fri, Jan, 03, 2014 @ 09:30 AM

medical_storageAs an independent pharmacist, you know that it's your job to stock the medications and other products and supplies your customers need. However, it's just as important to keep your medical supplies, including any medications, organized and stored properly at all times. Doing so ensures that your customers' health and safety are protected, and that you are also protected from theft, loss, and medication errors that might otherwise occur.

Proper medical storage is necessary because:

  • Precise organization and labeling of inventory is imperative

Modern medical storage devices, such as cabinetry and shelving, make it easy to organize and label current inventory. This is especially imperative, of course, when you're dispensing prescription medications that must be properly labeled and dosed, but it's also necessary to do this with all of your product inventory so that you always know what's in stock.

  • Inventory counts must be accurate at all times

With incidents like pharmacy narcotic thefts on the rise, it's important that you keep track of your drug inventory. If counts are off, you'll know immediately so that you can investigate. Keeping proper track of inventory in general is also important so that customers always have what they need, while you'll eliminate shortages or overages.

  • Controlled substances such as narcotics must be locked away safely, yet easy to reach when needed

Today's medical storage devices include locking under the counter cabinetry that can be used in the pharmacy area so that you can serve customers and fill prescriptions quickly and easily without risking theft.

Other points to consider for proper medical storage:

  • It is made to save space

Whether it's used to dispense prescription medications in the pharmacy area or shelving used for over the counter and other products, proper medical storage saves space so that you can make the most use of both limited retail and pharmacy space. Modern medical storage components can hold more of the size you sell, yet require less space, with instantly adjustable shelving and other fixtures that accommodate a variety of product sizes efficiently.

  • It can be assembled in a variety of configurations based upon current and future needs

Today's pharmacy storage used for customer displays isn't "one size fits all."  It comes in a variety of colors and styles to suit your needs. Wall system units, gondola shelving, end caps, slat wall displays, and bay systems help you organize both your pharmacy and store to make the most use of limited space. In addition, these units can be quickly and easily broken down and set up again in new configurations as your own needs change. And because these fixtures also use precision design, each configuration will look finished and professional once assembled, with no rough edges or shoddy construction.

  • It is built with modular construction

Whether you use modular shelving systems for your stockroom or customer display, it makes proper medical storage easy because you can swap components as needed to keep inventory neat and organized; there's no need to re-inventory existing stock because you've lost count of what you have. With modular systems, you can use trays, pegs, and bins along with standard shelving to keep even small items organized. This makes them easier to keep track of and avoids losses.

  • It can be used with most prescription trays

In your pharmacy, you can customize your shelving to fit your prescription trays – or you can buy it ready-made and therefore cheaper, yet still able to fit your needs. Medical storage shelving accommodates prescription trays and can be adjusted with drugs still in place, so that they don't need to be removed even if shelves need repositioning.

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Topics: medical storage