Unit Dose Packaging Advantages

The medical field has improved exponentially with technology and new packaging systems. One very simple improvement you may not think of, but that has made a world of difference is unit dose packaging. Unit dose packaging which is an improvement on how medication is packaged, delivered, and administered has drastically lessened errors in medication dose usage.

Simply put, unit dose packaging is one single dose of medication. Unit dose packaging is used mostly for long term care systems of medication and health care. An example of a long term care use is the pharmacy prescribing of pain medication in anticipation of the patients moments of intense pain and need for pain medication. The doctor or pharmacy can measure out the exact pain medication amount needed in a unit dose packaging unit with a bar code, lid label covers, or whatever unit dose style is needed for the patient so that the patient will have the medication on hand and ready for pain relief. All the nursing staff has to do is to open the unit dose packaging with the medi dose and apply the pain medication. This eliminates misunderstandings or mistakes in medication measurements at the long term care facility because there’s no double-checking the medication bottle and the right dose. The unit dose packaging is prescribed specifically by the pharmacy for that particular long term care patient. That’s one way unit dose packaging provides long term care convenience and eliminates error.

Unit dose packaging is not only used in long term care, but today it is being used more often in the hospital. Here’s an example. Let’s say your son has an accident and splits his chin open. The wound looks pretty deep and you think he needs stitches so you run him to the hospital to find out that, you were right, he does need stitches. Before the doctor starts stitching he’s going to numb the are with a local-anesthetic medication–Lidocaine.

The lidocaine comes in unit dose packaging, so the nurse can quickly take out the unit dose packaging of medication which has its own bar code and lid label covers which she scans and assigns to her patient, your son. The doctor happened to take a little longer on a trauma victim so the nurse needs to re-apply more lidocaine. Since the medication was in unit dose packaging, specifically assigned to your son, she can use the same vile and apply the left over lidocaine. Because of the unit dose packaging, the nurse uses less supplies which saves you, the patient, more money. Also, the unit dose packaging saves time for the nurse and eliminates any error of what medication was previously given.

One example of a more common, daily use of unit dose packaging in the pharmacy systems medication packaging is the blister card that holds medication tablets. I’m sure you’ve used the little unit dose packaging blister card when you’ve taken allergy medication or pain medication. All you have to do is punch the pill through the foil on the back. The unit dose packaging in this case keeps your medication safe from liquid spills and young children. Unit dose packaging like the blister card is light weight and convenient to carry around. Unit dose packaging makes it easier to remember how many medication tablets you’ve already taken. And unit dose packaging actually extends the life of your medication. There are many advantages to unit dose packaging!

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The lidocaine comes in unit dose packaging, so the nurse can quickly take out the unit dose packaging of medication which has its own bar code and lid label covers which she…. Learn more at Unit Dose Packaging and bar code