Medication Safety Week: Best Practices for Secure Medication Storage

In any healthcare setting, medication safety isn’t just good practice—it’s a matter of compliance, patient safety, and operational integrity. That’s why Medication Safety Week, observed annually from April 1–7, is the perfect time to evaluate your current processes and ensure your facility is following the most effective and secure practices for medication storage.

Let’s take a closer look at the best practices for medication safety, why secure storage matters, and how modern solutions like MedServe cabinets can help protect your patients, staff, and organization.

Why Medication Safety Week Matters

Drug diversion, opioid theft, and inconsistent storage practices continue to pose risks to healthcare organizations nationwide. In environments like ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), outpatient clinics, and hospitals, even small gaps in medication management can lead to serious consequences—patient care, legal, and financial.

Medication Safety Week is a reminder to put safeguards in place and reinforce your team's commitment to secure medication storage and controlled substance compliance.

Best Practices for Safe and Secure Medication Storage

1. Always Lock Up Controlled Substances

Controlled substances should be stored in a locked medication cabinet at all times. These cabinets should have tamper-proof features and restricted access to prevent misuse or theft.
Best practice: Use an access controlled medicine cabinet that limits access to authorized personnel only, with user tracking for full accountability.

2. Set Access Permissions by Role

Limiting access isn’t just about locking a door. It’s about assigning access based on job function. Not every staff member needs access to narcotics—and the more you can define and restrict access, the lower your risk of diversion.
Pro tip: Choose a storage solution that allows for role-based access, biometric or PIN authentication, and a complete access log.

3. Maintain a Clear Audit Trail

In the event of a diversion incident or a DEA audit, you’ll need records. Cabinets that digitally log every transaction are critical for maintaining controlled substance compliance.
Simplify audits: Look for a cabinet with built-in reporting tools and automated inventory tracking to reduce manual logging and human error.

4. Educate Your Staff Regularly

Policies don’t work if your team doesn’t understand or follow them. Regular training on medication safety, secure storage protocols, and diversion warning signs ensures your whole team is on the same page.
Start simple: Use Medication Safety Week as a time to host short refreshers or mini workshops with real-world examples.

5. Separate, Label, and Monitor All Medications

Improper storage—even of non-controlled substances—can lead to mix-ups, spoilage, and unnecessary risk. Ensure all medications are stored according to manufacturer guidelines, with clear labels and separation by type.
Don’t overlook: Temperature-sensitive medications should be stored in temperature-monitored environments with alert systems for out-of-range conditions.

How MedServe Supports Medication Safety

At MedServe, we’re committed to providing secure, user-friendly storage solutions designed for the real-world. Our digital narcotic cabinets help surgery centers, outpatient hospitals, and clinics to minimize risks, meet regulatory standards, and streamline workflows.

Key benefits of MedServe cabinets include:

• Secure access control with PINs, biometric ID, or badge authentication

• Digital audit trails and real-time tracking for every access event

• Durable construction for long-term, reliable use

• Effortless integration into existing clinical workflows, including compatibility with leading EHR systems like HST Pathways, SIS (Surgical Information Systems), and EPIC

Take Action During Medication Safety Week

Use this week to evaluate your current storage processes and identify opportunities to improve safety and compliance. Small upgrades like modernizing your storage solution can have a big impact.

Looking to strengthen your medication safety strategy?
Schedule a demo with MedServe to see how our secure storage solutions can enhance safety, ensure compliance, and protect what matters most.

Safe storage isn’t just a requirement—it’s a responsibility.
Make the most of Medication Safety Week by committing to safer, smarter medication management today.