dr-exmedic.com

I’ve worked for places with closed drug box systems, and places with open drug box systems. I have to admit that the closed drug box system is often extremely convenient. Sure, you may have to go to another hospital to get your meds, but they’re at least standardized, and you don’t have to check the drugs, ever–just the little expiration date printed on the tag.
The major hazard of a closed box system was painfully evident to me recently: unless your system is very proactive and has training boxes readily available, the only time you get to see the drugs in your box is often when you open the box to use them. I knew how to use the meds in ours without damaging the needleless system, but another medic pushing the drugs didn’t–and a cardiac arrest is a really, really bad time to 1) have a leaky IV set, and 2) be teaching anyone anything (particularly when it’s a cardiac arrest in a somewhat public place).