In pharmaceutical storage, maintaining optimal temperatures is fundamental for both medication effectiveness and patient safety. The pharmaceutical refrigeration units and storage rooms require daily temperature checks, maintaining a range of 2°C to 8°C, which is ideal for medicines requiring refrigeration. In contrast, those stored at room temperature should not exceed 25°C to maintain patient safety and keep the efficacy of the relevant medication intact.

These concerns of pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare professionals are easily addressed through the implementation of automated, cloud-based systems enabling accurate, round-the-clock temperature monitoring, a solution that we at Withnell Sensors provide.

In this blog, we will discuss the most common and best practices regarding medication storage in pharmacy refrigerators and their temperature monitoring, as well as the strengths and shortcomings of manual and digital monitoring methods. Keep reading to learn more.

An Inside Look at Refrigerated Medication Storage

Pharmaceutical fridges hold a crucial role in guaranteeing the safety, efficacy and organization of medications. These medical refrigerators are designed to maintain a consistent temperature with the help of fan-driven air circulation. This feature helps create an ideal environment to preserve the quality and integrity of medications. As pharmacy staff routinely access these refrigerators, swift temperature restoration after door openings is vital, preventing temperature fluctuations and safeguarding the medicines stored within. Focused on both safety and practicality, these pharmaceutical fridges boast secure locking systems and are often equipped with glass doors or windows. This is not just a design choice but an important characteristic that allows staff to easily monitor stock levels without constantly opening the door, reducing temperature changes and any associated risks. Also, the glass doors and windows discourage the storage of non-medicinal items, greatly minimizing the chances of contamination and ensuring that the refrigerator remains dedicated to medication storage. This attention to detail is central to maintaining a sterile environment and instilling confidence in the proper storage of critical medications.

Keep a Check on Fridge Temperatures: How and Why?

Monitoring fridge temperatures can seem a bit daunting, but it’s actually quite simple. In addition to performing daily checks, it would be ideal to log temperatures every hour, if possible, to capture any changes due to regular fridge usage. Being thorough here pays off as it helps protect valuable temperature-sensitive medications. To accurately capture this data, it would be best to use a reliable electronic thermometer or temperature sensor, ideally one that boasts a precision of ±0.5C.

One might wonder about the importance of temperature monitoring. The answer is straightforward: maintaining the appropriate conditions in a pharmaceutical fridge is critical to guaranteeing the efficacy of medications stored within. Deviations from the optimal temperature range can compromise a medication, making it less effective or even entirely ineffective. Employing regular temperature checks, as recommended by the FDA Guidelines, is essential for promptly identifying potential issues and minimizing risks. By vigilantly monitoring temperatures and utilizing well-calibrated equipment, individuals can provide superior care and attain reassurance, confident that the contents of the fridge are securely stored.

Manual or Digital Temperature Monitoring: Choose Your Path

Pharmacies have the option of employing either manual or digital approaches for temperature monitoring, each presenting distinct advantages. Pharmacists must carefully consider these two approaches to determine the most effective strategy for safeguarding medication effectiveness. It goes without saying, then, that the choice between manual and digital temperature monitoring reveals itself as crucial in upholding pharmaceutical standards and ensuring the quality of stored medications. Let’s take a closer look at the two methods.

Manual Checks

Manual checks involve assigning a dedicated staff member, or several, to keep a tab on fridge temperature using thermometers or temperature sensors. While this involves the assurance of human oversight, it does come with staffing costs, as this process requires time, attention, and consistency from the designated staff member, especially in large facilities. Also, manual temperature monitoring comes with its own set of challenges. Firstly, human error is an ever-present risk, going from inaccurate readings and data recording mistakes to simply forgetting a scheduled check. Additionally, manual procedures lack an efficient alert system, meaning that if there’s a temperature problem, it will go unnoticed until the next scheduled check. This is a considerable disadvantage, particularly in instances where immediate action is necessary to maintain suitable storage conditions.

Digital Checks

A digital solution for temperature monitoring streamlines the entire process and is quicker and easier for everyone. Automated logging at pre-set intervals is one of its stand-out features. Whether pharmacists need to track temperatures every hour, every half-hour, or any other interval, they can simply set it up, and the system takes it from there. This high degree of automation means staff members previously assigned to manual checking can now refocus their attention on other critical areas, resulting in enhanced productivity. Another valuable aspect of a digital system is that it can also ring the alarm bells when needed. Once specific temperature parameters are set for a medication’s storage requirements, the system will alert the staff immediately if these boundaries are breached. These features collectively work towards minimizing human error, freeing up staff time, and, most importantly, guaranteeing patient safety by ensuring medications are always maintained in optimal conditions.

Introducing the Withnell Sensors Monitoring Solution: The SenseAnywhere Airosensor

Now that we have discussed the importance of temperature monitoring in pharmaceuticals and have described the differences between manual and digital checks, we proudly present our market-leading offering for pharmacy fridge temperature monitoring: the SenseAnywhere Airosensor.

Hailed by industry leaders across the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, our system offers multiple benefits, such as a 10-year battery life, unmatched software, and round-the-clock data access. The wireless temperature sensor comes loaded with a configurable alarm system, instantly alerting you through Email or SMS if the temperature falls outside set parameters. Ensuring the utmost safety for your medications has never been easier!

To explore the complete advantages of our system and to discuss your 7-day free trial, feel free to reach out to us.