Clinical storage involves a process of packaging pharmaceuticals in different formats to distribute to the general public. The packaging must be secured to avoid tampering and to ensure safe distribution to doctors, pharmacies, and patients. Some of the best medical packaging techniques include blister packaging, clamshell packaging, pouch packaging, and bottle packaging.
Blister packaging is one of the most common forms of clinical storage in the United States. This type of packaging can also be identified by size, color, style, and container choices. Also often referred as “clamshell,” blister packaging can be identified in many styles, including tint, translucent, opaque, and vinyl. To keep medicine safe from damage, pharmaceutical packaging companies use a formable web-based material to produce pockets or cavities for the pills or capsules. For greater durability, some packaging services use a combination of foil and PVC material.
For quality control purposes, blister packaging services often track clinical storage by printing expiration dates and lot numbers. And, while most blister packages come with peelable laminate for easy opening, other types of blister packaging include features so that adults can still open the product, but children cannot.
Carded blister packaging is an added feature because it allows manufacturers to provide pharmaceutical information or coupons for future purchases. This is also possible to do while keeping the pharmaceutical safe in its packaging.
Another type of clinical storage, bottle packaging features twist-off, snap-off, and child-safe options. Also during the pharmaceutical packaging process, manufacturers add bar code printing to identify the products. Other safety features of bottle packaging include special seals and liners to protect from spills or outside tampering by other substances.
Benefits of clinical storage include ensuring safe medication distribution to those who need it. According to research, close to 50 percent of Americans have used prescription drugs within a 30-day period. As of 2011, U.S. drug store and pharmacy sales rose to approximately $231 billion. Furthermore, doctors and nurse practitioners have ordered or prescribed nearly 3 billion prescriptions following an office visit. And, at least 75 percent of physician visits involve some form of drug therapy to help patients get well. Clinical storage also helps when it comes to hospital visits. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacies have ordered more than 270 million prescription drugs to use during ER visits in recent years, according to research.
What are some other benefits of clinical storage? Feel free to share in the comments below.