Question

research the pros and cons of keeping a drug sample closet

Medical law, ethics and bioethics

Answer 1

For some physicians, the drug samples closet may look like Santa’s workshop: a collection of meds for every ailment. So the physicians offer their patients sample drugs. For patients who might not be able to afford the medication, getting started with samples can be the difference between getting better and continuing to suffer from what ails them. And all patients, regardless of financial means, are more likely to begin and continue treatment when given an initial dose at no cost. They dispense drug samples in their offices, but this practice may not benefit patients. We analyzed the novelty and usefulness of the medications most commonly found in sample closets in primary care practices.

Pros and Cons:

But free samples are ethically tricky, and every withdrawal from the samples closet should be treated more like a bank transaction than a trip to the buffet.

Some physicians argue for the acceptance and distribution of drug samples while others are detractors of the practice. Despite their often humanitarian purpose of providing access to patients in need of drug samples

Pros

1. Serves as substitutes for more expensive medications
2. Lowersthe costs of drugs to the patient
3. Allowspatients to try new medications without committing
4. Allowsphysicians to discuss the medications with patients vs having pharmacists do the job
5. Increasesadherence by allowing for quick initiation of therapy

Cons:

• It can lead to drug misuse and diversion
• Expiredsamples can be given to patients in error due to oversight
• Samples may influence physicians to prescribe higher-cost, brand-name products
• Supply of samples can be inconsistent
• No pharmacist is on hand to advise patients

Drug companies have their own take on samples. They claim that samples provide physicians with access to new treatment alternatives. Samples also help patients who cannot afford them.

Medical law, ethics and bioethics

Step 1: Learn the rules.

Step 2: Check the dates.

Step 3: Choose a classification system.

Step 4: Protect the contents.

Step 5: Track your distribution.

Step 6: Keep supplies handy.

Step 7: Repeat as necessary.

Manage the drug sample closet to avoid legal issues. These steps are to be taken :

Step 1: Set Aside Time to Take Control
It happens to the best of us. Things get busy and the sample closet gets neglected. Before you know it pill bottles lie strewn about the shelves, samples haphazardly stacked, most of them way past their expiration date.Many physicians get great use out of the samples in their drug sample closet. It’s not just about putting samples into the closet until they expire and then having to dispose of them. However, giving expired medication to patients is definitely a liability to be concerned about.

The first thing you need to do is set aside a designated time (give yourself a couple of hours) to clean out all those currently expired meds. While it may seem like a waste to throw away unused medicine, dispensing expired medication is not worth the risks associated. Here are some tips to get started:

Start by setting up an organization/classification system
Group samples in a way that makes sense for you
Separate drugs with similar names so they are not confused
Keep drug samples secure and protected (use a locking cabinet or add a small lock)
Designate an “overflow” area for extra samples (keep this secured as well)
If a drug comes in multiple sizes designate separate bins for each size

Step 2: Put Someone in Charge
In many cases, there is no one designated to manage the sample closet. In some practices, the drug reps are managing the samples. If this is the case, were someone to take samples without permission, no one would even notice.

To avoid drug reps rearranging your sample closet or potentially removing competitors’ samples, limit the number of drug reps you allow in the office per day. Make sure someone can be available when a drug rep arrives to give them access to the sample closet and secure it again when they leave. The person in charge of the sample closet should:

Track distribution – should there be a recall you need to be able to contact patients
Keep supplies nearby – a notepad and pen come in handy for writing down oral instructions, small bags are also helpful for carrying multiple samples to patients
Make disposing of expired meds an ongoing task – always check the expiration date on products before giving to patients.