Purpose Statement
The Med Kits feature allows departments to track, monitor, and interact with medication inventory across the organization. This article explains how to navigate Med Kits, locate specific kits and medications, review pouch-level inventory, interpret medication status indicators, view kit details, and access available medication actions.
Background Information
Med Kits are part of the Medications module and are used to organize medications stored on apparatus, ambulances, at stations, or in other operational locations. Each Med Kit provides personnel with visibility into medication quantities, pouch locations, expiration dates, count status, service status, and, when applicable, controlled substance security and custody information.
Med Kits can be organized into Med Kit Groups to help personnel locate related kits. Med Kits that are not assigned to a group appear under Ungrouped.
Medication inventory is displayed according to the pouch where it is stored. When the same Medication Form is stocked in multiple pouches, personnel can distinguish the inventory associated with each pouch rather than viewing all matching inventory as one combined Med Kit quantity. This pouch-level organization also supports more detailed medication event reporting for agency administrators.
Depending on agency configuration, Medication Forms may have Par and Min values that provide visual indicators of current inventory status. Personnel can use these indicators along with expiration information to identify medications that may require attention before completing medication events.
Common uses of Med Kits include:
- Reviewing medication inventory and pouch locations.
- Performing medication checks and Counts.
- Identifying medications requiring restocking or monitoring.
- Identifying expired medications.
- Tracking controlled substances.
- Reviewing scheduled Count information.
- Managing Custody Exchanges between personnel.
- Performing medication Usages, Transfers, Removes, Receives, and Counts.
Required Permissions
Users must have the applicable permissions for the Med Kit functions they need to perform:
- Med Kits — Allow
- Count Medications — Allow
- Meds - Custody Exchange — Allow
- Meds - Usage — Allow
- Transfer Medications — Allow
- Remove Medications — Allow
- Receive Medications — Allow
Additional administrative actions, such as Update Record, depend on the user's ability to update the Med Kit configuration.
Permission availability may vary by role and department configuration.
Video
Medications Par Management
Par management provides pouch-level medication inventory management within Med Kits. Agencies can configure which Medication Forms are stocked within individual pouches and may optionally establish Par and Min quantities for each configured Medication Form. When the same Medication Form is stocked in multiple pouches, users can identify the inventory associated with each pouch instead of seeing all matching quantities combined at the Med Kit level.
Par represents the configured stocking level for the Medication Form within the pouch. Min represents the configured minimum inventory threshold.
Medication cards use color-coding to help users quickly evaluate inventory status:
- Red — Restock Needed: Available quantity is below Min.
- Red — Restock Needed (Zero Quantity): Available quantity is 0 when Par and/or Min is configured. The card remains visible to identify medication that should be stocked.
- Yellow — Monitor: When both values are configured, available quantity is at or above Min and at or below Par.
- Yellow — Monitor when Min is not configured: Available quantity is at or below Par.
- Light Gray — Well Stocked: When both values are configured, available quantity is above Par and above Min.
- Light Gray — Well Stocked when Min is not configured: Available quantity is above Par.
- Light Gray — Well Stocked when Par is not configured: Available quantity is above Min.
- Light Gray — No thresholds configured: The medication card appears light gray when neither Par nor Min is configured.
When inventory is exactly at Min, the medication card does not display red. It remains within the yellow Monitor condition when both Par and Min are configured. The card turns red and displays Restock Needed when inventory drops below Min.
Agencies may also configure a Critical Low Stock notification to support inventory monitoring when medication inventory drops below its configured Min and the condition is not corrected as part of the applicable medication workflow.
An expired medication can also affect the displayed inventory status. A Med Kit may physically contain the expected number of units, but an expired unit does not satisfy the need for usable medication inventory. Review expiration information when a medication indicates that inventory requires attention.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Access Med Kits
- Select the First Due logo in the upper-left corner.
- Open the Medications module.
- Select Med Kits.
2. Review Med Kit Groups
The left panel organizes available Med Kits according to configured Med Kit Groups.
- Expand a group to view its Med Kits.
- Collapse a group to hide its Med Kits.
- Review the number displayed with the group to identify how many Med Kits it contains.
- Med Kits that are not assigned to a group appear under Ungrouped.
3. Search for a Med Kit
Use the Search field in the left panel to locate a Med Kit.
The search can be used to locate kits using information such as:
- Kit Name
- Kit ID
- Medication
Select the desired Med Kit to display its information and inventory.
The selected Med Kit is highlighted in the panel.
4. View In Service and Out of Service Med Kits
Med Kits display their current service status:
- In Service indicates that the Med Kit is available for operational use.
- Out of Service indicates that the Med Kit has been removed from operational service.
Enable Show Out of Service Kits to include out-of-service Med Kits in the left panel. Disable the option to remove them from the displayed list.
When an out-of-service reason has been documented, hover over the Med Kit's Out of Service indicator to review the reason.
Warning:
If an out-of-service Med Kit disappears after its status changes, enable Show Out of Service Kits to locate it again.
5. Identify Controlled Substance Med Kits
Review the Med Kit indicators to determine whether a kit is configured for controlled substances.
A CS indicator identifies an applicable controlled substance Med Kit. Individual medications may also display controlled substance indicators according to their configuration.
Controlled substance Med Kits may include additional information and workflows, such as custody and seal tracking.
6. Filter Medication Inventory
Use the filter tools above the selected Med Kit to locate medication inventory using:
- Medication Name
- Lot Number
- Serial Number
- Expiration Date
Expiration Date filtering includes available date options and a custom date range.
Select the desired criteria, then select Apply.
When filtering by Medication Name, matching Medication Forms are displayed with their applicable pouch location, allowing users to identify where the medication is stocked within the selected Med Kit.
7. Review the Med Kit Banner
The banner across the top of the selected Med Kit provides available operational information, including:
- Kit Name
- Most recent Count date
- User who performed the most recent Count
- Soonest expiring medication
- Count schedule information
- Next or overdue Count information
- Current Location
- Current seal number, when applicable
- Current custody holder, when applicable
Hover over applicable information, such as the soonest expiration indicator, to review additional details.
Controlled substance Med Kits configured for custody tracking display the current custody holder. Depending on permissions, users may also be able to initiate a Custody Exchange or perform a custody override.
8. Review Pouch-Level Medication Inventory
The main content area displays medication inventory organized by pouch.
Depending on configuration and available inventory, medication information may include:
- Medication name
- Medication Form
- Available quantity
- Par
- Min
- Expiration date
- Controlled substance status
When the same Medication Form is stocked in multiple pouches, review the applicable pouch to distinguish the inventory stored in each location.
Inventory in each pouch is evaluated independently. A Medication Form stocked in more than one pouch can therefore display a different inventory status in each pouch based on that pouch's available quantity and configured Par and Min values.
This pouch-level distinction is important when reviewing inventory and performing medication events because selecting the correct pouch helps ensure the event affects the intended inventory and supports accurate pouch-level reporting.
9. Review Medication Card Status
Use the medication card color and displayed information to evaluate current inventory status.
- Red — Restock Needed: Available quantity is below Min.
- Yellow — Monitor: With both Par and Min configured, available quantity is at or above Min and at or below Par.
- Yellow — Monitor with no Min: Available quantity is at or below Par.
- Light Gray — Well Stocked: Available quantity is above the applicable configured threshold.
- Light Gray — No thresholds configured: Medication Forms with neither Par nor Min configured display light gray.
A medication does not turn red simply because its quantity reaches Min. When both Par and Min are configured, inventory at Min remains yellow Monitor. The red Restock Needed condition begins when available inventory drops below Min.
If Par and Min are configured to the same value, inventory at that value also remains yellow and turns red only after quantity drops below Min.
If a Medication Form has Par and/or Min configured and its quantity reaches 0, the card remains visible and displays red Restock Needed. This allows personnel to identify medication that should be stocked in the pouch even though no units are currently available.
Because there are no available units at quantity 0, selecting the medication does not display individual inventory records.
Important Note:
A red medication card does not necessarily mean inventory is physically absent. Compare the available quantity with the displayed Min and review expiration information. Inventory may also require attention because a unit is expired even when the total physical quantity appears sufficient.
10. View Individual Medication Inventory Details
Select an available medication quantity or applicable medication card information to review the individual inventory records.
Depending on the medication inventory, details may include:
- Medication Form
- Expiration date
- Lot Number
- Serial Number
- Quantity
Multiple inventory records may appear when the pouch contains medication with different lot numbers, serial numbers, or expiration dates.
Use this information to verify the specific medication inventory currently stocked within the pouch.
11. Review Expired Medication (If Applicable)
Expired medication is identified within the Med Kit so personnel can locate inventory requiring attention.
An expired medication can affect the medication's displayed inventory status. A Med Kit may physically contain enough units to meet its configured inventory threshold, but an expired unit does not satisfy the need for usable medication inventory.
Review the expiration information and complete the appropriate medication inventory actions to remove expired inventory and restore usable stock as appropriate.
12. Expand or Collapse Pouches
Use the pouch controls to expand or collapse individual pouches.
Use the expand/collapse all control to quickly display or hide the contents of all pouches.
Collapsing pouches can make it easier to navigate Med Kits containing a large number of pouch configurations.
13. Switch Between Tile and List Views
Use the view controls to switch between the available Med Kit inventory displays.
Tile View displays Medication Forms as cards and provides the visual inventory-status indicators associated with Par and Min configuration.
List View displays medication inventory in a tabular format and can be used to review information such as:
- Medication Form
- Pouch
- Expiration date
- Lot Number
- Serial Number
- Quantity
Select the view that provides the appropriate level of detail for the task being performed.
Tile View
List View
14. Access Medication Actions
Available action buttons allow users to initiate applicable medication workflows, including:
- Count
- Usage
- Transfer
- Remove
- Receive
- Custody Exchange, when applicable
The actions displayed depend on the user's permissions and the Med Kit configuration.
Important Note:
Med Kits listed as Out of Service will only have Receive, Transfer, Remove, and Custody Exchange for available medication actions.
Tip:
Use the applicable workflow article for instructions on completing each medication action.
Controlled Substance Med Kits
Non-Controlled Substance Med Kits
15. Update a Med Kit Record
If permitted, select Update Record to access the Med Kit configuration.
Administrators with the appropriate access can update configuration such as:
- Pouches
- Medication Forms
- Par values
- Min values
- Other Med Kit settings
Configuration changes affect how the Med Kit and its medication inventory are presented to personnel.
16. Take a Med Kit Out of Service
Use the In Service control to change the operational status of the Med Kit.
When taking the Med Kit out of service:
- Select the applicable out-of-service reason.
- Enter any required information.
- Select Save.
After the Med Kit is taken out of service, it is removed from the standard Med Kit display.
To locate the kit again:
- Enable Show Out of Service Kits.
- Select the Med Kit.
- Return it to service when appropriate.
Best Practices
- Review the selected pouch before performing a medication event when the same Medication Form is stocked in multiple locations.
- Use the Par and Min color indicators as a quick inventory assessment, then review quantities and expiration information when a medication requires attention.
- Remember that Min is the threshold boundary: inventory at Min remains in the monitoring state, while inventory below Min displays red Restock Needed.
- Do not assume that the physical quantity alone represents usable stock. Expired inventory may cause a Medication Form to require attention.
- Address red Restock Needed medications according to agency inventory procedures.
- Review zero-quantity medication cards when displayed. A configured Medication Form can remain visible at zero quantity to identify medication that should be restocked.
- Use filters to locate medications by name, lot number, serial number, or expiration date when reviewing inventory.
- Use List View when detailed inventory attributes such as pouch, lot number, serial number, and expiration date need to be reviewed together.
- Perform Counts according to the agency's configured Count Scheduler and operational policies.
- Review soonest-expiring medication information to identify inventory requiring attention.
- Confirm custody information during applicable personnel, shift, or unit changes.
- Keep Med Kits grouped logically to help personnel locate operational kits efficiently.
- Review out-of-service reasons before returning a Med Kit to operational use.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
I don't see certain medication action buttons. Why?
Medication actions are permission-based. The available buttons depend on the permissions assigned to your user role and the applicable Med Kit configuration.
Why isn't custody information displayed?
Custody information is applicable to controlled substance Med Kits using custody tracking. The ability to initiate or override custody actions also depends on user permissions.
Why is a Med Kit missing from the list?
Check the search criteria, Med Kit Group, and Show Out of Service Kits setting. Out-of-service Med Kits are hidden unless the applicable option is enabled.
How can I tell why a Med Kit is out of service?
Hover over the Out of Service indicator for the applicable Med Kit to review its documented reason.
Why is a medication card yellow?
When both Par and Min are configured, yellow Monitor indicates that the available quantity is at or above Min and at or below Par. If Min is not configured, the card displays yellow when inventory is at or below Par.
Why is my medication card still yellow when the quantity equals Min?
This is expected. Inventory at the configured Min remains within the yellow Monitor condition when both Par and Min are configured. The medication card turns red only when available inventory drops below Min.
Why is a medication card red?
Red Restock Needed indicates that available inventory is below the configured Min. A configured Medication Form can also remain visible and display red when its quantity reaches zero.
Why doesn't Restock Needed appear when the quantity equals Min?
Restock Needed is displayed when inventory is below Min, not when it equals Min. For example, if Min is 2, a quantity of 2 remains in the monitoring condition. A quantity below 2 displays red Restock Needed.
What happens if Par and Min are the same value?
When inventory equals the matching Par and Min value, the medication card remains yellow Monitor. It turns red Restock Needed only after inventory drops below Min.
Why is a medication card light gray?
Light gray indicates Well Stocked when inventory is above the applicable configured threshold. With both Par and Min configured, inventory above both values is light gray. If only Par is configured, inventory above Par is light gray. If only Min is configured, inventory above Min is light gray. A Medication Form also appears light gray when neither Par nor Min is configured.
What happens if only Par is configured?
The medication card displays yellow Monitor when available quantity is at or below Par and light gray Well Stocked when quantity is above Par.
What happens if only Min is configured?
The medication card displays red Restock Needed when inventory is below Min and light gray Well Stocked when inventory is above Min. Inventory at Min does not display red.
Why does the Med Kit show a Medication Form with a quantity of zero?
When Par and/or Min is configured, the Medication Form remains visible at quantity 0 so personnel can identify medication that should be stocked in the pouch. The card displays red Restock Needed.
Why can't I open the details for a Medication Form showing zero?
There are no individual medication inventory records to display when the available quantity is zero. Receive or transfer the applicable medication inventory into the Med Kit as appropriate.
Why does a medication require attention when the total quantity appears correct?
Review the medication's expiration information. If one or more units are expired, the displayed inventory status may indicate that the medication requires attention even though the physical number of units appears to meet the configured inventory threshold.
Can the same Medication Form have a different status in different pouches?
Yes. When the same Medication Form is stocked in multiple pouches, inventory is maintained at the pouch level. Each pouch's available quantity is evaluated against the Par and Min values configured for that Medication Form in that pouch.
How do I determine which pouch contains a medication?
Medication inventory is organized by pouch in Tile View. You can also use the medication filter or switch to List View to review the pouch associated with each Medication Form.
Why does selecting the correct pouch matter during a medication event?
Medication inventory is maintained at the pouch level. Selecting the correct pouch ensures the event affects the inventory from the physical location where the medication was stored and supports accurate pouch-level medication reporting.
What is the difference between Tile View and List View?
Tile View provides medication cards and visual Par/Min inventory-status indicators. List View provides a detailed inventory display that includes information such as Medication Form, pouch, expiration date, lot number, serial number, and quantity.
Why don't I see Update Record?
The Update Record option is permission-based. Users need the appropriate access to update Med Kit configuration.