There are medications you always need to have available and sometimes what is on the shelf can expire before being used. So I record the perpetual inventory medications by expiration date. I created an Excel list of all of the medications in the center going down the page with the 12 months across the top. When a medication is received, I only need to list the expiration year. So, for example, Tylenol expires January 2020, and so I'll put "2020" under January. I have my expiration Excel list in my medication binder, and each month all I need to do is run my eye down the list for that month and sign off. This way you are not having to look at each drug to see when it expires. Also, I see what is about to expire in the coming month, and even if it's not low, I'll go ahead and order it. Expired meds go in the Pharma-bins supplied by Steriscycle. Expired narcotics get sent to MedFlats. I have passed 3 accreditations with flying colors.

Sara Shyr, RN
K and B Surgical Center
Beverly Hills, Calif.
[email protected]