[Pharmwaste] Inventory spread sheet available

[Ed Gottlieb]

Hi All,

Partway into our second collection event we realized that the problems with using a web-based proprietary medication inventory data base made it impractical.  Mid-collection we switched to using an Excel spread sheet.  Afterwards, I merged our data in with the spread sheet Tom Sinclair of Monroe County, NY had developed and reworked it to make it more user friendly.  It now includes about 400 medications (includes multiple dosages of some medications.)

I am confident that using this system we can meet our goal of fully inventorying every tenth vehicles contribution and fully count all controlled substances that we receive in future collections.  

If you would like to get the spread sheet please let me know and I'll email it to you.  It will auto fill much of the information as it is typed in.  If you use it and add new items to it, please share it back to the group.  As the data base grows it will make the job of data entry easier.  You probably should delete the data in the "Total received" field before using.

I'm sure there is a lot that could be improved on this spread sheet.  Some medications don't yet have units, others may be listed under multiple names, etc.  For instance,  I don't know if APAP = hydrocodone or if one is a distinct variety of the other.  I've included all the forms of medication that were recorded (tab, capsule, suppository, spray, cream, powder, gel cap, solution, liquid, lozenge, etc.)  It might be wise for us to agree on a more limited, but still useful, list of options (with definitions) for this field.          

Please send me any corrections or suggestions you have. 

The data in this spread sheet can be sorted by any of the included fields.  I'd recommend that when starting a new inventory add the date and sort for it.  The rest of the database will then be hidden (and somewhat protected) but still available for auto fill.  Here is what is included:

DATE	
Initials  (of data entry person)	
Computer	 (if using multiple computers) 
Car #  	
PRIMARY MEDICATION NAME  
SUB-NAME      (splitting the name up allows auto fill to work much better)
Prescription (RX) or OTC	
Controlled	
Form (pill, capsule, ointment, etc.)	
Dosage	
Units  (mg, ml, etc.)	
Total Received (pill count, ml left, etc.)	
Hazardous Waste	
NOTES


Ed Gottlieb
Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility
525 3rd Street
Ithaca, NY  14850
(607) 273-8381