Brought to you by Acology, Inc.
by Jack Rein
There are more than 1500 6Beds facilities across California serving more than 7500 residents. As our population ages, that number is growing every day. There are a lot of challenges when it comes to taking care of these very special people. Giving them the proper medications as ordered by their physicians is one of the most important. We’re going to introduce a method that will make this job a little easier you.
First of all, we’d like to introduce all of our members to the Medtainer. The Medtainer is more than just a plastic bottle that you put medications in. Each Medtainer has the following features:
- It’s made from FDA approved #5 polypropylene. It is the only plastic that the FDA has approved to store food or medications in.
- It’s the perfect thing to replace the containers that you are currently using when you break down a resident’s daily medications.
Here is what separates the Medtainer from the containers you are using now:
If your resident has trouble swallowing pills you can grind them in the Medtainer.
That’s right! Each Medtainer has an easy grinder that works like this:
- Just put the pills in the bottom of the Medtainer, put the grinder on top, and twist back and forth.
- In 30 seconds or less the pills are ground into powder and can be put in apple sauce, pudding, an ensure or other liquid and even a g-tube.
Here is one of the best features of the new organizing system. Each Medtainer will have the name of the facility, the 6beds logo on the cap, and the resident’s name printed on the container. Each labeled container complies with HIPAA guidelines for privacy.
You may be dealing with a lot of different containers and methods when it comes to how you organize medications. Packs or cartridges are usually received from the pharmacy and stored in a cabinet. Then, usually the night before, a resident’s daily medication requirement is put in a separate container for the next day.
Now think about replacing those containers with MedTainers and using a simple, color-coded system to designate when the resident will get medications.
Here is the system. We start with a basic 4Pack:
- White containers are for morning or AM meds.
- Blue for Noontime or Lunchtime meds.
- Red for PM or nighttime meds and
- Green for Bedtime meds.
If your resident requires it, or if you request it, you can also order 2 additional colors:
- A Black Medtainer is for narcotic, pain control or PRN meds.
- An Orange Medtainer is used before breakfast.
If there is another designation that your facility uses just let us know and we’ll make it for you.
A chart will accompany each order that will have the color-codes and the times-of-day for each Medtainer. The chart can be mounted on the cabinet as an easy reminder or reference.
Ordering the Medtainers for your facility is easy. Simply go to the 6Beds website or our Acology website (www.Acologyinc.com) and click on the ordering tab. A menu will guide you through the process and you will have your Medtainers in just a few days.
Your cabinets might have been a little chaotic before. Once you’ve begun using this method a full compliment for 6 residents only takes up a space that measures 20 inches by 9 inches. And wouldn’t you like to show that to a prospective resident’s family?
This system is easy to learn and adopt in your facility. We know that it will take a little bit of time to get used to this new organization method and if you have any questions you can call direct or email us for a fast response.
The cost of a basic 4-pack for 6 residents, printed with the 6Beds logo, facility name and resident’s name, is only $120. Each additional MedTainer is $5. 20% of all proceeds go directly to 6Beds.org.
In conclusion, the Dell-Simpson method of organizing meds can change the way you currently care for your residents, making them safer and happier. And after all, isn’t that what it’s all about?
Below is a short video about the Dell-Simpson Medication Organization Method:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbPdGU5ghZA?rel=0]