Chapter 7:

Medication Distribution Systems

GROUP 2
Carias, Elaizha
Castillo, Alodia Eunicia
Chiong, Aureo Paul
Claveria, Alison
De Guzman, Regina Maria
Decampong, Jehhan
Dela Cruz, Aryssa Gem

Role of a
Pharmacist

To ensure that patients

receive the appropriate
medication in an acceptable
dosage form

Pharmacists
role was
distributional

AS TIME HAS
PROGRESSE
D

EARLY DAYS

Clinical
responsibiliti
es

Distribution of
drug products will
continue to be an
important
responsibility of
pharmacists

History of
medication
distribution
systems leading to

the unit dose

concept

50 years ago

Hospital pharmacist was primarily

confined to the basement.
The space was small
The personnel involved in drug
distribution were few
Pharmacist was just to purchase and
prepare medications to be used on the
nursing unit

50 years ago

Physician - prescribe the medication

RN - administer the medication to the
patient
Pharmacist rarely involved in
assessing the appropriateness of
therapy
Responsibility: to repackage or
compound medications, except for IV
admixtures

2 Distinct
Distribution

Methods
1. Floor Stock
System
2. Patient
Prescription System

1. Floor Stock
System

Individual storage area on each nursing

unit
Medications where largely unsecured
Pharmacist
stocking the nursing unit storage
area
never see the physician order
Nurse prepare both oral and IV use

2. Patient
Prescription

System
Pharmacists are more involved in this

system than in floor stock system

2- to 5- day supply of medications for
the patient.
Pharmacist would place only limited
judgment on whether the medication
was appropriate for the patient.