Updates to USP 800 Regulations: What Healthcare Professionals Need to Know
Introduction The healthcare landscape is always evolving. And that’s why it’s crucial for healthcare professionals to stay up to date on the latest regulations and guidelines to prioritize patient safety and ensure compliance. One important set of regulations that has garnered attention in recent years is USP 800. These standards for handling hazardous drugs in […]
The Latest Trends in Pharmacy Automation
Introduction The healthcare industry is constantly evolving and improving thanks to new technologies, especially for pharmacies. Pharmacies require many different systems to stay precise, accurate, and timely so it is important to always stay up to date with the latest technology when it comes to this profession. Pharmacy automation has been at the forefront of […]
Ensuring Compliance with USP 797 Guidelines for Sterile Compounding
Introduction Safety is always a top priority for pharmacists, and an important component of it is sterile compounding. This involves the safe and sterile preparation of medications in a clean environment to prevent contamination. Compounded medications help meet the unique needs of patients who may not have access to the correct treatment regarding specific dosing […]
SOLVING THE PHARMACY TECHNICIAN SHORTAGE
Learn how three health systems enhanced their recruiting, retention and career advancement efforts to tackle the industry’s ongoing shortage. It’s no secret that healthcare systems across the nation have struggled with a shortage of pharmacy technicians in recent years. But how is the industry responding to this critical challenge? Visante interviewed pharmacy leaders from three […]
Packaging Matters
Contributor: Julia West, PharmD, BCPS, MBADirector of Inpatient Pharmacy, Greater Baltimore Medical Center In today’s fast-paced world of new pharmaceutical products and evolving patient care needs, supply chain challenges, and medication shortages, the ability to balance the above components is often a key to survival for any pharmacy dispensing business or production environment. Inpatient, outpatient […]
How to Identify and Dispose of Hazardous Pharmaceuticals and Controlled Substances
Knowing which drugs need to be disposed of in hazardous waste containers is vital. Compliance with federal and state regulations reduces the potential for fines and penalties while at the same time increasing safety. Proper management, protocols, and in-house processes for any facility that handles or receives hazardous drugs also protects human health and the […]
Preparing for USP Microbiology – Related Changes
Contributor: Abby RothFounder, Pure Microbiology The buzz surrounding the release of USP General Chapter <797> on November 1, 2022, is undeniable, as it should be. We have seen four different possible iterations of the chapter since 2015. This highly anticipated release brings significant changes to sterile compounding operations and facility design, all with the intention […]
Understanding Drug Denaturing and Non-Retrievable Strategies
Expired or unwanted pharmaceutical drugs and unused prescription opioids must be rendered harmless before disposal in order to prevent potential theft or misuse of a drug through inadvertent exposure to children or others. Such practice can also reduce incidents of drug diversion, as well as to prevent those drugs from entering into and damaging groundwater […]
How do you avoid Drug Diversion?
Reducing the risk of drug diversion in your facility requires not just knowledge of the problem, but the right tools and procedures that contribute to a safer drug disposal program in your facility. According to the US Department of Justice National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), costs of drug diversion incidents affecting not only private medical […]
The Significance of Refrigeration in Maintaining Vaccine Storage
Introduction It’s no secret that vaccines are incredibly important, but they’re also sensitive to even the slightest environmental changes. Therefore, the success of a vaccination program rests on how vaccines are stored and handled. That’s why the role of refrigeration in maintaining the quality of vaccines can’t be ignored. A vaccine storage refrigerator is the […]
