The development of a parenteral admixture program in a pediatric hospital.

This endeavor describes the development of a parenteral admixture program in a 175-bed pediatric acute care hospital. It begins with a description of the advantage to the hospital of a parenteral admixture program as compared to conventional floor stock systems. Some examples of other admixture programs are cited along with specific characteristics of programs that could be applicable to any hospital. An outline is presented of the basic steps found in all programs. A detailed description is given illustrating how the program was actually developed in this hospital. This description includes items such as: 1) how space for the additive center was procured; 2) how a prediction of the workload was arrived at; 3) how the equipment for the center was procured; 4) how the pilot study was set up. This is followed by protocol for the admixture program. A discussion of data obtained during the development of this program includes: 1) how the I.V. usage rate of each was obtained; 2) how the amount of capital los due to the floor stock I.V. system was determined; 3) the amount of capital and the square feet of storage space tied up by the floor stock systems; 4) the amount of time save in the hospital by the additive system; and 5) and evaluation of how many personnel in the hospital were required per 100 I.V. solutions used before and after the additive system. The last chapter discusses the effectiveness of the admixture program based on previously established parameters. Some of the conclusions reached are as follows: 1) The program did save the hospitals money through more efficient use of time and equipment. a) Capital tied up in floor stock was greatly reduced. b) The program reduced the number of man-hours required to operate the I.V. therapy function in the hospital. This freed the nurses more from medication problems and gave them more time for bedside care. c) Checks were made to insure accuracy and also more care was taken in following established hospital policies regarding parenteral therapy as a result of the program. d) Solution and medications were all labeled properly and uniformly.