What does the First-In, First-Out (FIFO) method ensure regarding medication expiration dates?

The First-In, First-Out (FIFO) method is a system that prioritizes the use of medications based on their expiration dates, specifically ensuring that medications with the earliest expiration dates are dispensed first. This practice is crucial in pharmacy operations to minimize waste and ensure that patients receive medications that are safe and effective throughout their intended shelf life.

By implementing the FIFO method, pharmacists can effectively manage inventory and reduce the risk of administering expired medications to patients. This approach helps maintain the integrity of the pharmacy’s stock, ensuring that older medications are used before they expire, thereby promoting safety and compliance with legal and ethical standards in medication management.

The other options would not contribute to this goal: using the most recently stocked medications first would increase the likelihood of older stock expiring before use, prioritizing medications with the longest shelf life does not address the immediacy of expiration, and allowing for arbitrary rotation would lead to inconsistencies and increased risk of dispensing expired products.