How to Build a Storeroom For Medical Supplies

When you need to stock inventory for durable medical equipment, you need a secure and functional facility that you can quickly access supplies from and use for storage. The facility needs to be temperature controlled, well-lit and secure, either by a keypad or lock, so it will be an adjunct to your provider's office and not a free-standing unit. Keeping that in mind, you can insure that you meet all accreditation guidelines while making it accessible to your technicians and staff.

Instructions

• 1

  Ensure that you have exempt employees with access to the storeroom. Per JCAHO (Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) guidelines, an exempt employee needs to be in charge and on site whenever medical supplies are dispensed from a storeroom. Contact your state's labor board for exempt employee licensing requirements.

• 2

  Program a key code or have a secure protocol in place so that the appropriate employees have access to the items. These are medical supplies, some of which require a medical prescription to dispense, so you will need to protect access to the items to the appropriate employees.

• 3

  Make your inventory and storage areas easily accessible for the technicians so they can access supplies easily and efficiently. Have storage bins available for items they utilize often in the appropriate units. If there is bar coding involved, have a reader nearby so they can quickly scan the product before dispensing to the patient, whether on a walk-in basis or if they will be shipping the items.

• 4

  Devise an area with tables and scales where the items can be easily assembled and placed in shipping containers for distribution through the U.S Mail or UPS. This will also be necessary for returns or exchanges of the equipment.

• 5

  Create an area where used or loaner equipment can be cleaned and returned to inventory or the equipment can be re-used. You should have two tables, one for used (dirty) and refurbished (clean) equipment. Make sure there is a hazardous waste receptacle for disposal of contaminated equipment that cannot go into the normal waste cycle.

• 6

  Set up a cabinet for items to be used in packaging as well as materials necessary for the cleaning and maintenance of equipment. If you are using oximeters that need AA batteries, store the batteries here. If you need plastic baggies to package individual items, such as dressings or filters, have them on hand in the cabinets. This area should also contain any extra cleaning supplies you will need for the equipment.

• 7

  Make sure there are sufficient outlets to plug in any devices that need charging so that a technician will have equipment ready to go out when necessary.