Frequently Asked Questions

CQC Outcome 9 (regulation 13) requires that “people should be given the medicines they need when they need them, and in a safe way”. CQC inspectors actively check that “procedures exist to ensure the safe handling of medicines”. Care homes using Biodose tell us that CQC inspectors have commented on the improvement in the extent to which their medication management procedures address the requirements of Outcome 9.

On the contrary. Having more medications in one place, including liquids, means that your staff can avoid the risks associated with repeat dispensing and don’t have to measure as many medications for themselves.

Biodose pods remain sealed even once popped out of the tray, so if there’s a problem and you need to pause giving meds, you can just put the pod back into the tray until the problem is resolved, before giving it to the service user.

No. Having their meds together in one pod makes taking them quicker and easier for the service user. Biodose also allows service users in their own home greater independence when it comes to taking their medication themselves, as they don’t have to measure out doses of liquids or remember to remove several pills from different packaging.

Biodose is the only system on the market to accommodate liquids as well as tablets and capsules, and 85% of Biodose pharmacy partners say Biodose is better than the competition.1 The rate at which care homes are switching to Biodose, and users’ positive feedback shows why Biodose is considered a superior safeguard against medication error.

1. Pharmacy research conducted June 2013

Almost all liquids, tablets and capsules can go into Biodose – the pods are hermetically sealed, so they’re even suitable for some hygroscopic (water absorbent) tablets which cannot be packaged in other monitored dosage systems.

Controlled drugs can be packaged into Biodose and can be locked in the CD cabinet provided, in accordance with care homes’ own medication policy.

Biodose pods can hold a maximum of nine different tablets or capsules, or 10ml of liquid. Trays are available in weekly (7 day) or monthly (28 day) versions, to best suit the needs of the service user.

The plastic used to make Biodose pods is naturally hydrophobic, meaning it repels liquid, so there is very little residue left in the pods after the liquid has been consumed.

Biodose pharmacies provide these to care homes in a separate tray on request.

Biodose pods are hermetically sealed with a patented sealing process so liquid medication remains stable in Biodose. Using Biodose means that the liquids are sealed until immediately before they are administered, as opposed to dispensing from original packs, where bottles are re-opened and exposed to air, light and bacteria multiple times per day.

Dropped tablets or capsules should not be administered and should be treated in accordance with your medication policy. However, if a pod is dropped before the lid is peeled off, the medication can still be administered because the seal has not been broken.

The refused medication should be resealed in the Biodose pod using a ‘refused’ sticker provided, replaced in the tray and returned to the pharmacy.

Working in partnership with the pharmacy, there are several ways to handle this.

If a medication is temporarily stopped, you can use the medication pictures on the PIC chart to identify and removed the unwanted medication, which is then returned to the pharmacy.
The pharmacy can collect the old tray and reissue a new tray and new MAR chart.
Alternatively, the pharmacy may issue an additional tray (if extra medication is required) and an additional MAR for the new medication.

Because all medication going into the Biodose system is measured and checked by the pharmacy before delivery, errors are extremely rare. In the unlikely event an error is detected, it should be recorded in accordance with your medication policy and immediately reported to the dispensing Biodose pharmacy.