Identifying costs of intravenous solution wastage.

A monitoring programme to systematically evaluate and decrease wastage of intravenous (i.v.) solutions was developed. Documentation of type and quantity of wasted solutions can help identify potential causes of waste. Subsequent systems changes intended to decrease waste can then be evaluated. Pharmacy technicians daily recorded the number, identity and locations of discarded i.v. solutions. A computer spreadsheet application was developed and used to produce a monthly summary identifying the number, drug cost and solutions wasted by hospital unit, thus establishing specific areas to target for i.v. wastage control. Investigators conducted a 12-month retrospective evaluation of i.v. wastage, revealing that over 14,000 i.v. preparations were destroyed at an estimated $US90,000 in drug costs. This equates to 2.5% of total drug costs wasted in small volume parenterals. Target programmes were implemented for drugs that were frequently wasted and systems changes implemented that decreased overall wastage of i.v. solutions.