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COW's Revisited- Do we really need to go to the Pyxis one Patient at a time?

By Michael Nibert posted 06-25-2010 13:14

  
Hello AARC friends,
I need to know best practice in your facility how to coordinate medication
dispensing from your COW's (or WOW's for the politically correct) working
with the Pharmacy department so as to meet the TJC standards on medication dispensing. I have forwarded 2 responses on best cart recommendations. Your replies will
be most appreciated as I build my case for COW's aka WOW's to improve productivity, employee satisfaction, while maintaining patient safety.
From: Christopher Whelchel
To: Management Section
Posted: 06-02-2010 22:58
Subject: RE:COW's
Message:

Great question! After luggin around a few carts here and there, the best ones I have seen are here at South Austin. Ergotron is the mfg and they have a drawer that has several slots for meds, a small basket off the back and near the feet.

They are light to move on/ off elevators and have a numbered digital lock. Overall, really good if you need to go that route!

Here's the link : http://www.ergotron.com/Products/tabid/65/PRDID/222/language/en-US/default.​aspx

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Christopher Whelchel
Respiratory Care Practitioner
South Austin Medical Center
Austin TX

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Hide Original Message -------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-02-2010 20:42
From: Michael Nibert
Subject: COW's

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussions: Management Section and Informatics Roundtable .
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Hello AARC friends,
  We are in the process of ordering COW's for my department. Do you recommend a particular cart with locking drawer? Why have you picked the manufacturer you recommend? Thanks in advance for your replies.

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Michael Nibert RRT,BSRT
College Station Medical Center I College Station, TX, USA
Director Respiratory Care & Heart Station I EEG I Pulmonary Rehab
Michael.Nibert@CSMedCenter.com
979-764-5256
2 comments
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Comments

Julia Downs
06-28-2010 10:06

We use locking medication carts that have computers on them and then we actually have an Omnicell(Pyxis) in our department. Our med carts are fully stocked with all the "run of the mill" medications that we need. Everything is bar coded. We scan the patient and the medication prior to adminstration. At the end of the shift the RT returns to the department, charges the medications to the patient from our Omnicell and refills the cart. So in essence we have an Omnicell on wheels.. (OOW) hehe.... Its great!

Brenda Valentine
06-27-2010 17:17

The use of COWs for medication delivery, healthcare documentation, and laboratory/test results retrieval definitely enhances the efficiency of healthcare and medication delivery providing "real time" information integration accounting to all departments throughout the facility. They are also great managerial and statistical performance tracking resource tools. The Joint Commission Resources Site provides information regarding requirements and medication management standards including the use of COWs. Limitations to consider are loss of wireless internet, emergent situations (extra steps in utilization), manpower or more than one heathcare worker with COW attending simultaneously. It cannot be idle in a corridor for 30 minutes and electical outlets must be available to maintain the batteries.