Expired Medications

Implementation Date: 10/2021

Date of Last Review: 3/27/2023

Next Review Due: 5/2023

 

Reviewed by VTH Administrative Team: 10/2021

Reviewed by VTH Board: N/A

 

Reviewed by Legal Counsel: N/A

Reviewed by Biosecurity Subcommittee: N/A

Subject to modification by the VTH Director without approval.

Policy

No expired medications may be used to treat patients. Expired medications must be removed from patient care areas and quarantined until they can be destroyed or returned. This policy covers all medications used in the VTH.

Guidelines

• Dispensary staff are responsible for monitoring expiration dates on all medications stored in the VTH dispensary and all Cubex machines.
• VMSC staff are responsible for monitoring expiration dates on all medications stored in the VMSC with the exception of Cubex.
• Clinical coordinators are responsible for monitoring expiration dates on all medications in their service areas.
• When expired medications are found, they must be removed from patient care areas and destroyed or returned to the dispensary. Non-controlled medications can be disposed of in medication buckets.
• Controlled substances must be returned to the dispensary for proper documentation and disposal.

Procedure (if applicable)

1. Medication stock must be reviewed monthly for anything that is/will be expiring.
2. It is recommended that stickers be placed on medications that will be expiring within the next couple of months as a visual reminder.
3. Stock should be rotated so that medications close to expiring can be used first.
4. Clinical coordinators should utilize the VTH inspection door sheets to document monthly inspections of their ward stock. These sheets are to be turned into the VCM Department Office when completed.
5. Injectable medications should be reviewed at the beginning / end of every month and periodically throughout the month to ensure that there are no opened, expired injectable medications on the shelf or in the refrigerator.

Stock Expiring in the Dispensary

1. When medications in the VTH Dispensary stock expire, a report may be run to see how many dispensations have occurred in the past year. A cost evaluation will be done to determine what the price needs to be to make sure cost is covered with the limited dispensing that occurs. 
2. The pharmacy coordinator will reach out to the services using the medication and discuss if the medication should be reordered or not.

Definitions (if applicable)

Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH): The collective clinical services of the Large Animal Clinic, Midwest Equine, the Small Animal Clinic, and the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic.