2024 ACA Nashville Program Book_154th Congress of Correction

WORKSHOPS

Friday, Aug. 16 ▼ 9–10:15 a.m.

Pharmacy Model: Just in Time Dispensing Room 203A Dispensing medications within correctional systems has tended to be much the same for the past 40-50 years. It consists of a central pharmacy packaging 30 days of medications into a blister card. If the resident is eligible for Keep on Person Medications, he is issued a card of 30 doses. If the resident is only allowed Watch-Take Only medications, the nurse must pop the pill from the card and dispense it to the resident at a pill line. Preparing for these pill lines takes a lot of nursing time, can have unknown medication errors and is very inefficient. Recently, technology has produced automatic tablet packaging systems which include inspection systems so medications can be packaged rapidly in single dose packages which includes labels with the resident’s name/number and medication included in the package. It also includes bar codes for these items so they can be scanned using equipment from electronic medication administration records. In 2023, this system of packaging was implemented in the Kansas Department of Corrections for all Watch-Take Medications. This just-in-time medication distribution system has resulted in needing fewer staff in medications rooms, greater nurse satisfaction, greater resident satisfaction and

decreased medication costs for the Kansas Department of Corrections. This presentation will discuss the automatic packaging and inspections systems and the associated costs of implementation. The many considerations that need to be made prior to implementing this packaging system will be presented. How the Kansas Department of Corrections worked through these considerations, implemented the system in cooperation with pharmacy and healthcare vendors and the results in terms FTEs and cost reductions experienced will be presented. Some estimates of savings that might be experienced by other systems will be discussed. Learning Objectives: • Participants will be able to identify what is an Automated Tablet Packaging System. • Participants will be able to understand decision making steps for determining if an Automated Tablet Packing System will work for your jail or prison system. • Participants will be able to identify potential areas where an Automated Tablet Packaging System could increase staff efficiency and provide other pharmacy cost savings. Moderator: Gerald Jorgenson , Director of Healthcare Compliance, Kansas Department of Corrections, Topeka, Kansas

ACA 154 th Congress of Correction | Nashville — 105