ASHP Guidelines on the Safe Use of Automated Dispensing Cabinets.

Abstract

Address correspondence to Bruce Hawkins (standards@ashp.org). Automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) technology is used to improve patient care, enhance the efficiency and accuracy of medication dispensing in the medication-use system, support medication storage and security, and provide evaluation of ADC-user interactions. ADC use has become widespread in healthcare institutions, with 93% of hospitals using ADCs in their medication-use systems,1 and 70.2% using ADCs as a primary method of maintenance dose distribution.2 Implementation steps and objectives to support an ADC system include the following: These guidelines address components of ADC technology implementation and important detailed steps to meet and maintain basic ADC requirements. Appropriate, accurate, and timely distribution of medications to patients is a well-established responsibility of pharmacists. Use of ADCs has become the standard of care for the medication-use process in healthcare systems.2 ASHP supports use of ADCs, because they are essential to provide quality patient care, secure storage of medications, and ensure viability of the medication-use process in healthcare organizations.