Issi box update

Improve Insulin Dispensing and Save

Small insulin vials can provide quick access to critical medication, but without proper storage and handling they can lead to substantial losses for hospital pharmacies and jeopardize patient safety. It’s a cost too big to bear. 

 

Consider this. Using traditional dispensing methods during a three-day evaluation, a hospital returned 186 vials, or $6,000+ worth of medication to the pharmacy following a floor inspection. 

 

Reasons for the returns included:

• No patient label

• No expiration date

• Medication was expired

• Multiple vials were sent for 1 patient

• The patient had been discharged 

 

Each of these incidents qualifies as a violation of The Joint Commission’s standards for high-alert medication handling. The ISSI™ Insulin Box, or Insulin Safety Secure Initiative box, solves these concerns and offers considerable cost savings. 

 

The sealed, see-through container holds up to 4 insulin vials and is preprinted with the brand name, Lantus, or the generic name, Glargine. It keeps drug names and expiration dates visible through specially designed cutouts, which also allow for barcode scanning. Vial stoppers remain exposed for easy medication withdrawal and because the boxes are not patient specific, there is less product waste and significant cost savings.  

 

During a three-month evaluation following its transition to ISSI Box dispensing, a hospital reported a cost savings of more than $25,000. The switch improved insulin administration, enhanced patient safety and reduced overall costs. Ready to see the same results in your facility? Give us a call to get started! 

 

Atlantic Health System is the owner of the patent for the ISSI box and has given Health Care Logistics® a license for its manufacture, use and sale.