About 10 days before the cycle date, we print labels for the cards postdated for the cycle date. In our case, the agency then delivers the medications to the group homes, a nurse goes to the facility and checks in the medications, and administration from the cards begins on the cycle date. Should the new order occur in the 10 days before the cycle date, a short order and a cycle label are prepared, and these must be filled together if the regular cycle medications have already been shipped to the agency. Cycle labels for drugs that are discontinued during the fill process must be removed from the batch-or credits issued if the order is stopped after the cycle batch ships. Otherwise, all the labor that goes into dispensing the order is wasted, and more labor is expended to check the order back in and issue a credit.
Communication is critical with cycle filling-especially related to discontinued medications.
Katzner noted that his PCA pharmacy also uses bingo cards for cycle filling, but he is aware of other operations in the Midwest that use Drustar or Artromick systems. We fill cards about three to seven days before the cycle date for our nursing homes. A technician goes to the home on the morning of the cycle date and changes out the cards and other supplies. Cycle filling allows us to plan ahead and keep minmal staff on weekends. In short, cycle filling saves 'wear and tear' on our pharmacists and technicians.