Inventory management is a complex process that requires a great deal of attention to detail. It is important that healthcare facilities have an organized and efficient system of tracking, storing, and managing their inventory to ensure patient safety and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
To achieve this, healthcare facilities must engage in workflow analysis, which identifies areas of improvement and opportunities for increased efficiency.
This article discusses the importance of compliance and safety in inventory management, best practices for implementing compliance and safety measures, and how specialized storage equipment and consultative services can help healthcare facilities reduce compliance risks and enhance safety.
Compliance with inventory management in healthcare facilities is the adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and standards to ensure safety and quality of care.
This includes the proper storage and handling of medications, the right labeling of products, and the tracking of inventory levels.
For example, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that healthcare facilities have an updated inventory of medications, including expired medications, to ensure that they are not used in patient care.
Healthcare facilities must be aware of the potential risks associated with inventory management. These risks can include issues such as expired or contaminated medications, incorrect labeling, incorrect temperature control, and theft.
It is important to have proper procedures in place to identify and address these issues in order to ensure compliance and safety.
Compliance and safety are essential in inventory management as they help protect patients from harm and ensure that medications are stored, handled, and administered correctly.
This is also important for healthcare facilities as it helps them avoid fines and other penalties for non-compliance. Compliance and safety issues in inventory management should be addressed on an ongoing basis to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
Healthcare facilities should implement the following best practices to ensure compliance and safety in inventory management:
Common compliance and safety issues in inventory management in healthcare facilities include expired or contaminated medications, incorrect labeling, incorrect temperature control, and theft.
To address these issues, healthcare facilities should seek the help of consultative services. These services can provide expertise and guidance on how to identify and address potential issues, as well as how to implement best practices to ensure compliance and safety.
In addition to seeking the help of consultative services, healthcare facilities should also consider investing in specialized storage equipment.
Specialized storage equipment can help improve employee safety and reduce compliance risks by providing secure storage for medications and supplies.
This equipment can also help ensure that medications and supplies are stored at the correct temperature and are easily accessible to staff.
We are a trusted partner in healthcare inventory management and we provide expert consultative services to help healthcare facilities identify and address compliance and safety issues.
Our team has adequate knowledge of inventory management best practices and we offer supply chain and inventory management guidelines that can help your hospital's production team meet your business process goals.
DSI's consultative approach can help healthcare facilities identify areas of risk, develop strategies to mitigate those risks, and implement best practices to ensure compliance and safety—preventing poor compliance.
DSI's consultative services can also help healthcare facilities select and implement the right storage equipment for their needs, ensuring complete inventory and inventory accuracy. To request a quote, fill out our online form or contact us at 800-393-6090 at Distribution Systems International today!
With 21 years of sales management, marketing, P&L responsibility, business development, national account, and channel management responsibilities under his belt, Ian has established himself as a high achiever across multiple business functions. Ian was part of a small team who started a new business unit for Stanley Black & Decker in Asia from Y10’ to Y14’. He lived in Shanghai, China for two years, then continued to commercialize and scale the business throughout the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions for another two years (4 years of International experience). Ian played college football at the University of Colorado from 96’ to 00’. His core skills sets include; drive, strong work ethic, team player, a builder mentality with high energy, motivator with the passion, purpose, and a track record to prove it.
