Use of an automated drug distribution cabinet system in a disaster response mobile Emergency Department

Authors

  • Herman Morchel, MD, MEE, BSEE
  • Chinwe Ogedegbe, MD, MPH
  • Nilesh Desai, BS RPh, MBA
  • Brian Faley, PharmD
  • Nasir Mahmood, MS
  • Gary Del Moro, BS, AHIMT
  • Joseph Feldman, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2015.0191

Keywords:

mobile Emergency Department, disaster response, Super Bowl, automated drug distribution cabinet system, mobile medical units, encrypted microwave Ethernet bridge, Electronic Medical Record, pharmaceutical supply, Super Storm Sandy

Abstract

Objective: This article describes the innovative use of an automated drug distribution cabinet system for medication supply in a disaster response mobile Emergency Department vehicle. Prior to the use of the automated drug distribution cabinet system described in this article, the mobile hospitals were stocked as needed with drugs in individual boxes and draws. Experience with multiple deployments found this method to be very cumbersome and labor intensive, both in preparation, operational use, and demobilization.

Setting: For a recent deployment to provide emergency medical care at the 2014 Super Bowl football event, the automated drug distribution cabinet system in the Institution's main campus Emergency Department was duplicated and incorporated into the mobile Emergency Department.

Results: This method of drug stocking and dispensing was found to be far more efficient than gathering and placing drugs in onboard draws and racks.

Conclusions: Automated drug distribution cabinet systems can be used to significantly improve patient care and overall efficiency in mobile hospital deployments.

Author Biographies

Herman Morchel, MD, MEE, BSEE

Attending Physician, Research Physician, Director of Emergency Medicine Residency Simulation Laboratory, Mobile Satellite Emergency Department Technical Consultant, Emergency Trauma Department, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey.

Chinwe Ogedegbe, MD, MPH

Section Chief Research Emergency Trauma Department, Attending Physician, Faculty Emergency Medicine Residency, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey

Nilesh Desai, BS RPh, MBA

Director of Pharmacy Inpatient and Outpatient Services, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey

Brian Faley, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacist Emergency Medicine, Pharmacy Department, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey; Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at the Ernest Marion School of Pharmacy of Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey

Nasir Mahmood, MS

Applications Systems Analyst Pharmacy Department, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey.

Gary Del Moro, BS, AHIMT

Emergency Preparedness Manager, Emergency Trauma Department, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey

Joseph Feldman, MD

Department Chairman, Emergency Trauma Department, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey

References

no references

Downloads

Published

01/01/2015

How to Cite

Morchel, MD, MEE, BSEE, H., C. Ogedegbe, MD, MPH, N. Desai, BS RPh, MBA, B. Faley, PharmD, N. Mahmood, MS, G. Del Moro, BS, AHIMT, and J. Feldman, MD. “Use of an Automated Drug Distribution Cabinet System in a Disaster Response Mobile Emergency Department”. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, vol. 10, no. 1, Jan. 2015, pp. 75-78, doi:10.5055/ajdm.2015.0191.

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2015): Winter

Section

Articles

License

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