What must be included in the written policies and procedures of an institutional pharmacy?

In the context of institutional pharmacies, written policies and procedures are fundamental for ensuring safe and effective medication management and compliance with regulatory standards. The inclusion of emergency drug kits in these policies is crucial as they play a vital role in providing immediate access to essential medications in urgent situations, such as a medical emergency.

Emergency drug kits are designed to contain a set of medications that are typically needed during critical care or in instances where immediate intervention is required, such as cardiac arrests, anaphylactic reactions, or severe pain management. Having documented policies and procedures surrounding these kits ensures that staff are aware of their contents, storage requirements, checking protocols, and restocking procedures. This helps guarantee that the pharmacy can respond rapidly and appropriately to emergencies.

In contrast, marketing strategies, training programs for patients, and retail pricing of medications are not essential components of the written policies and procedures for an institutional pharmacy. Marketing strategies are typically more related to community outreach rather than internal processes, while training programs for patients focus on education rather than the resourcing of medications in a clinical setting. Retail pricing does not apply in a hospital or institutional context where medications are often dispensed for inpatient care rather than for retail sale. Therefore, emergency drug kits are the correct answer as they directly pertain to