Ch. 09 Institutional Pharmacy Practice - Key Terms

ASAP Order

An order that should be completed as soon as possible, but not as an emergency.

Aseptic technique

Procedures used during sterile compounding to prevent microbes and unwanted debris from contaminating a medication preparation.

Automated Dispensing System (ADS)

A computerized cabinet or integrated system that controls medication inventory and dispensing in patient-care stress.

Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE)

(Computerized order entry) A computerized system that allows healthcare providers to enter medication and other medical orders electronically.

Crash Carts

Moveable carts containing trays of medication, administration sets, oxygen, and other materials used in life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrest, also known as code carts.

Electronic Medication Administration Record (E-MAR)

A computer program that automatically documents when medications are administered to a patient.

Formulary

A list of medications approved for use in a hospital or institution by its Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee.

Floor Stock

Drugs not labeled for a specific patient and maintained as a nursing station or other department of the institution (excluding the pharmacy) for the purpose of administration to a patient of the facility.

Institutional Pharmacy

A pharmacy that provides medications to facilities where patients receive care on site.

Investigational Drug

A drug that has not been approved by the FDA for marketing but is being studied in clinical trials.

Medication Order

A prescription or order written for the administration of medication to a patient in a hospital or other institution.

NKA

Indicates that a patient has no known allergies.

NKDA

Indicates that a patient has no known allergies to medications or drugs.

Non Formulary Medications

Drugs that are not approved for use within an institution unless specific exceptions are filled and accepted by institutional protocols.

Parental Medication

Medication that bypasses the digestive system but is intended for systemic action; the term parental most commonly describes medications given by injection such as intravenously or intramuscularly.

Periodic automatic replenishment (PAR)

A set level of certain medications kept on hospital floors

PRN

From the Latin term pro re nata, meaning "as needed" .

Protocol

A set of standards and guidelines by which a facility operates

PYXIS

An automated dispensing system often used in hospitals

Satellite Pharmacy

A specialty pharmacy located away from the central pharmacy, such as an operating room (OR), emergency department (ED), or a neonatal pharmacy; satellite pharmacies typically are staffed by a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician

Standing Order

Written procedure for drug or treatment that is to be used in a specific situation.

Stat order

A medication order that must be filled immediately, as quickly as is safely possible to prepare the dose, usually within 10 to 15 minutes.

SureMed

An automated dispensing system often used in hospitals

The Joint Commission

An independent, nonprofit organization that accredits hospitals and other health care facilities in the United States; the facility must be accredited to receive Medicare and Medicaid payment.

Unit Dose

Individualized packaged doses used in institutional practice settings

United States Pharmacopeia (USP)

A compendium of drug information, published annually, comprising enforceable guidelines for the safe preparation of sterile products.