Monitoring Challenges Tackled
• By Blair Galbreath, PharmD and Michael Mello
Northridge Hospital Medical Center is a 425-bed,not-for-profit facility located in Northridge, California, serving nearly130,000 patients annually.
Our challenge in monitoring medication storage was to ensure that individuals were recording refrigerator temperatures reliably each day. Refrigerators in the main and satellite pharmacies required attention and we used manual thermometers.
We implemented the SensoTech wireless temperature monitoring system in March 2008. Our supply chain department made the decision based on functionality, ease of use, reporting capabilities, and pricing. The ability to track the temperature on an hourly basis versus a 24-hour basis, notification by e-mail or page, and history reports were key features for us.
The system has been an excellent improvement for our hospital. SensoTech records on a continuous basis and if the temperature is ever out of the designated range immediate alerts are sent to the biomedical and pharmacy departments, through both computer notification and an audible alarm on the device itself.
To date, we have had only one situation with an out of range temperature and we were immediately alerted, allowing us to take the necessary action. We plan to incorporate the SensoTech system on all the medication refrigerators located on the patient care units.
I feel much more confident now for our next Joint Commission survey. Just knowing we have the documented temperature records over a considerable period of time provides reassurance that our medications have been stored safely. ■
Blair Galbreath, PharmD, is director of pharmacy and Michael A. Mello is director of materials management at Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Northridge, California.