predispensing

Predispensing is the practice of preparing medications in advance of a patient’s explicit prescription or immediate need, so that they are ready for administration, dispensing, or pickup. It may involve anticipatory packaging, labeling, and storage carried out by pharmacists or trained technicians under regulatory oversight. The aim is to align medication availability with patient flow in settings such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, or community pharmacies.

In hospital or institutional settings, predispensing often includes unit-dose packaging for patients expected to be discharged soon, or placing ready-to-dispense supplies in automated cabinets. In community or mail-order pharmacy models, predispensing can mean preparing medications ahead of a patient’s arrival or treatment cycle, subject to patient consent and applicable regulations. Process elements commonly include selecting the correct product, confirming dosing, unit-dose or blister packaging, labeling with patient information, barcoding, pharmacist verification, and secure storage.

Benefits of predispensing can include reduced wait times, improved medication adherence, smoother discharge planning, and greater pharmacy operational efficiency. However, risks exist, such as potential therapy changes after dispensing, incomplete patient-specific information, privacy considerations, and regulatory or liability concerns. Compliance requires clear protocols, accurate record-keeping, and alignment with prescribers and payers to ensure patient safety.

See also: medication management, dispensing, unit-dose packaging, discharge planning, pharmacy automation.