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petitioners' acute care hospitals. The principal medical
supplies used in psychiatric facilities are prescription drugs
and medicines. In some instances, medical supplies and equipment
might be used in certain treatments, such as insulin therapy,
electroshock therapy, and hydrotherapy.
Intravenous Solutions
During a hospital stay, a patient may receive an IV
solution. The administration of an IV solution involves the
injection of a prescribed solution directly into the patient's
vein, frequently together with prescribed amounts of admixtures.
The administration of an IV involves a number of steps,
including preparing the IV solution, mixing in any required
admixtures in the appropriate quantities, distributing the
solution to the patient floor, assembling the IV apparatus (which
may consist of a reusable pump and disposable tubing, connectors,
needle hubs, and catheters), setting the rate of flow, monitoring
the rate of flow, and monitoring the patient's response to the
medication. Monitoring the rate of flow and the patient's
reaction are critical aspects of the administration of an IV
because the infusion of the IV fluid at too rapid a rate could
harm the patient and the patient could have an adverse reaction
to medication administered through the IV. Once the
administration of the IV is complete, the IV apparatus and any
unused IV fluid are disposed of in a biohazardous disposal
receptacle to be discarded by the hospital. Typically, the
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