Assuring the quality of medications stored in patient care areas.

A program designed to improve patient care by assuring the quality of medications stored in patient care areas is described. A questionnaire covering six major areas--medication room, controlled substances, refrigerator, emergency medication kit, other storage areas and miscellaneous--designed to assist in gathering information during medication quality assurance rounds was developed. Rounds are conducted every four months by a pharmacist and a nurse. To ensure that any deficiencies are corrected, copies of the findings are sent to the appropriate pharmacy and nursing personnel.