Purpose Statement
This article explains how administrators manage existing Med Kits and their pouch configurations within the Medications module. In addition to updating kit information and pouch organization, administrators can manage Medication Forms, Par and Min values, and activate, deactivate, duplicate, archive, or delete Med Kits as operational needs change.
Background Information
As agency operations evolve, Med Kits often require updates to reflect changes in apparatus assignments, storage locations, medication inventories, pouch organization, and organizational standards.
Administrators can manage the lifecycle of a Med Kit directly from the Med Kit List by editing, activating, deactivating, duplicating, archiving, or deleting kits. Some actions permanently remove historical data, while others preserve records for reporting and auditing purposes.
Every Med Kit includes a Main Pouch, identified as the Default location. The Main Pouch serves as the default destination for medications that are not assigned to another pouch. It cannot be deleted but can be renamed to match your agency's naming conventions.
Med Kit pouch configuration allows administrators to identify which Medication Forms should be stocked within each pouch and optionally establish Par and Min quantities for those Medication Forms. Pouch-level configuration also allows medication events and reporting to identify inventory at the pouch level rather than only at the overall Med Kit level.
If a Medication Form or an entire pouch is removed from the Med Kit configuration, existing medication inventory is not deleted. Instead, medications are automatically reassigned to the Main Pouch (Default location) until they are configured within another pouch.
Required Permissions
Users need the following permissions for the Medication Kit List:
- Read
- Update
- Create
- Delete
- Archive Med Kits — Required only for users who need to archive Med Kits.
Video
Medications Par Management
Par management introduces pouch-level medication inventory management within Med Kits. Administrators can configure which Medication Forms are stocked within each pouch and may optionally establish a Par level and Min (minimum) quantity for each configured Medication Form. These values allow the system to compare available inventory against agency-defined stocking expectations and provide visual inventory status information when personnel view a Med Kit. Agencies are not required to configure Par or Min values.
Medication cards use color-coding to communicate inventory status based on the configured Par and Min values:
- Red – Restock Needed: The available quantity is at or below the configured Min. The medication card displays Restock Needed and identifies the configured minimum quantity.
- Yellow – Monitor: The available quantity is above Min but at or below Par. When a Min is not configured, the card is yellow when the available quantity is at or below Par.
- Light Gray – Well Stocked: The available quantity is above the configured Par. Medication cards also appear light gray when neither Par nor Min is configured.
The quantity indicator on a medication card displays the available quantity in relation to the configured Par when a Par value is present. Par and Min values are configured for Medication Forms within the pouch configuration of the Med Kit List.
When inventory reaches a configured Min, the red Restock Needed indicator alerts personnel that inventory requires attention. Agencies may also configure the Critical Low Stock notification to support inventory monitoring when medication inventory drops below its configured Min.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Open the Med Kit List
- Select the First Due logo in the upper-left corner.
- Open the Medications module.
- Select Med Kit List.
Locate the Med Kit you want to manage.
Tip:
This article focuses on managing individual Med Kits and their pouch configurations. For information about navigating the Med Kit List, using filters, creating saved views, and other list functions, see Navigating the Med Kit List. For information about duplicating, assigning, or managing multiple Med Kits simultaneously, see Med Kit List Bulk Operations.
2. Review Available Med Kit Actions
Select the Actions menu (...) for the desired Med Kit.
The following administrative actions are available:
- Edit Pencil – Update the Med Kit configuration.
- Trash Can – Permanently deletes the Med Kit and all associated records.
- Check Mark – Return an inactive Med Kit to active status.
- X icon – Deactivate and remove the Med Kit from end-user workflows while retaining its records.
- Paper Icon – Creates an exact copy of a Med Kits configuration.
- Paper Box – Permanently archives the Med Kit from active use while retaining historical records.
See Step 3 for further information and how to perform each action.
3. Manage the Med Kit Lifecycle
Depending on your agency's operational needs, choose the appropriate lifecycle action.
Trash Can - Delete
- Permanently removes the Med Kit and its associated inventory history and count records.
- Displays a confirmation message before deletion.
- Cannot be undone.
- Med Kits containing current inventory cannot be deleted.
X Icon - Deactivate
- Removes the Med Kit from end-user workflows.
- Retains all historical records.
- Can be reactivated at any time.
Check Mark - Activate
- Returns an inactive Med Kit to active service.
- Makes the Med Kit available again for end-user medication workflows.
- Retains all historical records and previous configuration.
- Can be used after a Med Kit has been temporarily deactivated.
Paper Icon - Duplicate
- Creates a copy of the existing Med Kit configuration.
- Copies pouch names, Medication Forms, minimum values, and kit settings.
- Ideal for creating multiple Med Kits with the same configuration.
Tip: Duplicate a Med Kit
Use the Duplicate action when creating multiple Med Kits with the same configuration. Duplicating a Med Kit copies its pouch structure, Medication Form assignments, medication minimum (Min) validation values, and kit configuration, allowing administrators to quickly create standardized Med Kits without rebuilding each pouch individually. After duplicating, update the Kit Name, Kit ID, Location, or other kit-specific details as needed.
Paper Box - Archive
- Removes the Med Kit from active use.
- Retains historical records.
- Cannot be undone.
- Does not move or transfer existing medication inventory.
Info: Medication List Saved Views
Create a saved Med Kit List view that filters for Archived Med Kits. Archived Med Kits are removed from the default Med Kit List, making a saved view the easiest way to locate them when needed. When viewing archived Med Kits, the Delete action is the only available action. Archived Med Kits cannot be restored, edited, or otherwise modified.
For instructions on creating saved list views, see Create Saved Views in Medication Lists.
4. Edit General Kit Information
Select Edit to open the Med Kit.
Administrators can update:
- Kit Name
- Kit ID
- Manufacturer
- Model
- Location
- In Service Date
- In Service status
Updating the Location changes only the reference location. It does not move medication inventory between the Assets and Medications modules.
5. Manage Controlled Substance Settings
Administrators may update the Med Kit's controlled substance configuration.
Available options include:
- Enable or disable Controlled Substances Kit
- Change between Use Lock and Use Seals
- Rename the Med Kit as operational needs change
Warning: Sealed Med Kit Count Records
Once seal records exist, the configured number of seals cannot be changed. To use a different number of seals, duplicate the Med Kit, configure the desired seal quantity, and archive the original Med Kit.
Locks vs. Seals
6. Manage Count Requirements
Enable or disable Require Count? as operational requirements change.
If the Med Kit already participates in a Count Scheduler, review and update the associated Count Scheduler after changing this setting to align department workflows.
7. Rename the Main Pouch or Other Pouches
Select the Pouches tab.
To rename a pouch:
- Select the Edit (pencil) icon.
- Enter the new pouch name.
- Select outside the text field to save the updated name.
The Main Pouch may be renamed but cannot be deleted.
8. Add or Remove Pouches
To add a pouch:
- Select + Pouch.
- Enter the pouch name.
- Select outside the text field to save the name.
To remove a pouch:
- Select the Delete (trash can) icon.
Only manually created pouches can be deleted.
Important Note:
When a pouch is deleted, any Medication Forms removed from that pouch no longer have an associated validation rule. Existing medication inventory is automatically reassigned to the Main Pouch (Default location) until it is configured within another pouch.
9. Expand or Collapse Pouches
Select the arrow on the right side of a pouch header to expand or collapse the pouch contents.
Collapsing completed pouches provides additional workspace when configuring Med Kits with multiple pouches.
10. Manage Medication Forms
To add a Medication Form:
- Expand the desired pouch.
- Select + Medication.
- Select a Medication Form.
- Configure the appropriate Par and/or Min values, if used by your agency.
To remove a Medication Form:
- Select the Delete icon next to the Medication Form.
Removing a Medication Form removes the pouch configuration and its associated validation rule. Existing medication inventory remains within the Med Kit and is automatically reassigned to the Main Pouch (Default location) until configured within another pouch.
Important Note:
Par and Min are optional. Configure these values according to your agency's desired inventory levels for the Medication Form within the pouch.
11. Update Medication Par Levels
Review each Medication Form within the pouch and update its Par value as operational stocking requirements change.
The Par value represents the agency's configured stocking level for that Medication Form within the pouch. When Par is configured, the Med Kit medication card compares the available quantity against the configured Par level.
Inventory status is displayed as follows:
- Yellow when the available quantity is above Min but at or below Par.
- Light gray when the available quantity is above Par.
- If no Min is configured, an available quantity at or below Par displays yellow.
Par is optional and does not need to be configured for every Medication Form.
12. Update Medication Minimums
Review each Medication Form within the pouch.
Update the Min value as operational inventory requirements change.
The Min value establishes the minimum required quantity for that Medication Form within the pouch. When the available quantity is at or below Min, the medication card is highlighted red and displays Restock Needed.
The Restock Needed indicator alerts users that inventory requires attention but does not prevent users from completing medication workflows. Depending on agency notification configuration, medication inventory that drops below Min may also be subject to a Critical Low Stock notification.
13. Reassign Medication Forms to Another Pouch
Medication Forms can be reassigned between pouches during Med Kit management.
To move one or more Medication Forms:
- Expand the pouch containing the Medication Form(s).
- Select the checkbox next to one or more Medication Forms.
- Select Move to Pouch.
- Select the destination pouch.
- Confirm the move.
The selected Medication Forms are reassigned to the new pouch.
Tip:
Reassigning a Medication Form also moves its configured Par and Min values to the new pouch. Future medication workflows use the updated pouch assignment.
14. Reorder Pouches and Medication Forms
The Reorder button becomes available once the Med Kit contains three or more pouches.
To reorder the configuration:
- Select Reorder.
- Drag and drop custom pouches into the desired order.
- Drag and drop Medication Forms within a pouch to arrange them in the preferred sequence.
- Review the configuration from the end user's perspective.
- Select Update to save the changes.
The pouch identified as the Default location is locked in place and cannot be moved. Only custom pouches can be reordered.
Important Note:
Medication Forms can only be reordered while the Reorder feature is enabled. If you need to reorder Medication Forms, the Med Kit must contain three or more pouches before the Reorder button becomes available.
15. Save Your Changes
After completing all updates:
- Review the Med Kit configuration, including pouch assignments and configured Par and Min values.
- Select Update.
The changes are immediately applied to the Med Kit.
Best Practices
- Use standardized Kit Names across similar Med Kits.
- Keep the assigned Location current as Med Kits move between apparatus or facilities.
- Duplicate Med Kits instead of recreating identical pouch configurations.
- Archive historical Med Kits instead of deleting them whenever historical records should be retained.
- Transfer medication inventory before archiving a Med Kit to prevent inventory from becoming inaccessible.
- Configure Medication Forms within the pouch where they are physically stored to support accurate pouch-level inventory tracking and reporting.
- Use meaningful pouch names that match the physical organization of the Med Kit.
- Configure Par values to reflect the agency's desired stocking level for each Medication Form.
- Configure Min values to identify the minimum quantity that should be maintained for Medication Forms where minimum inventory monitoring is required.
- Review Par and Min values whenever agency stocking requirements change.
- Avoid setting Par or Min values solely to produce a desired card color. Values should reflect the agency's actual inventory requirements.
- Organize both pouch order and Medication Form order to match how personnel access medications during emergency response.
- Review Count Scheduler assignments whenever Require Count settings change.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Can I change the Kit Name or Kit ID?
Yes. The Kit Name may be updated at any time and does not need to be unique. The Kit ID may also be changed, provided the new value is unique.
Why can't I delete a Med Kit?
Med Kits containing current inventory cannot be deleted. Transfer the inventory to another Med Kit or Med Supply before deleting the Med Kit.
Should I archive or deactivate a Med Kit?
Deactivate temporarily removes a Med Kit from operational use while allowing it to be reactivated later. Archive permanently removes the Med Kit from active use and cannot be reversed.
Can I delete the Main Pouch?
No. The Main Pouch serves as the Default location for the Med Kit and cannot be deleted.
What happens when I delete a pouch?
Existing medication inventory assigned to that pouch is automatically moved to the Main Pouch (Default location). The deleted pouch's Medication Form configuration is removed.
What happens when I remove a Medication Form from a pouch?
Removing a Medication Form removes its configuration from that pouch. Existing medication inventory remains within the Med Kit and is reassigned to the Main Pouch (Default location) until configured elsewhere.
Are Par and Min required for every Medication Form?
No. Par and Min are optional and may be configured according to the agency's medication inventory requirements.
What does Par represent?
Par represents the agency's configured stocking level for a Medication Form within a pouch. When Par is configured, the system compares available inventory against that value to help users monitor stock levels.
Why is a Medication Form yellow?
A yellow medication card indicates that the available quantity is above the configured Min but at or below Par. If Min is not configured, a medication card is also yellow when its available quantity is at or below Par.
Why does a Medication Form display Restock Needed even though its quantity equals the Min?
The Restock Needed condition applies when available inventory is at or below the configured Min. For example, if Min is 2 and the available quantity is 2, the medication card displays red and indicates that restocking is needed.
What does a light gray medication card mean?
Light gray generally indicates that inventory is well stocked relative to its configured Par. A medication card also appears light gray when neither Par nor Min has been configured.
Why can't I change the number of seals?
Once seal records exist, the configured number of seals cannot be modified. Duplicate the Med Kit, configure the desired seal quantity, and archive the original Med Kit.
Why can't I reorder Medication Forms?
The Reorder feature becomes available only when the Med Kit contains three or more pouches. Once enabled, administrators can reorder both custom pouches and Medication Forms. The Default location remains locked in place.
Does changing the Location move medication inventory?
No. The Location field provides a reference to an Assets location only. Medication inventory remains independently managed within the Medications module.