In a recent ISMP Alert, there was an article on Alaris pumps and corrosion to the IUI causing communication errors. In response to this we started reviewing our cleaning and storage practices with our Alaris pumps. We reached out to BD to see how often the IUI connector should be cleaned but I was told this was dependent on Institutional policy and customers establish their own policies and procedures. I wanted to see what other hospitals were doing.

Hello,

Re-energizing our focus on enhancing pharmacy and nursing collaboration around acute care (high dose) Opioid utilization through MEDD re-education for frontline staff. We have made some great progress over the years to positively impact prescribing practices, but want to take it to the next level. Had a meeting yesterday with nursing leadership and we of course have the data available and standard conversion table(s)/templates, but wondering if anyone has done anything creative (tip sheets, themed focused rounding, etc.) that worked really well to impact change.

Hello colleagues,

We are transitioning to the Vesco brand of Enfit syringes in our health system and would like some insight into what other hospitals have done. Specifically, these are some questions:

We don't use mannitol very often, but when we do there seems to always be confusion with the dosing. We carry the 20% 500mL bags and often the dose is a partial bag. So, they would have to know what volume to infuse and set that in the pump. In very small writing it says "Each 100mL contains 20g", but when they are in a hurry they don't seem to see that text. Has anyone added an auxiliary label to these bags stating that "each bag contains 100g/500mL and to set the pump to the volume ordered" or something like that? Just wondering how to make it easier for them.

Hello all,

We are facing challenges with home care coverage for our patients on outpatient mesna and fluid infusions after chemotherapy in the ambulatory setting. In some cases, we have been forced to admit patients for the infusions previously done at home, due to the lack of home care companies willing to provide the medications and infusion pumps.

Hello,

I hope all are well. I'm reaching out to inquire about what you do at your respective institutions regarding Anesthesia and competencies for compounding. Our anesthesia staff prepare of alot of nerve blocks, and several with multiple medications in the syringes (including additive line clonidine, dexamethasone, or epi).

How do you guys do this?

Jameika Stuckey
University of Mississippi Medical Center

Is anyone using criteria to determine who should receive tranexamic acid for surgery? Would you be willing to share? Also, is this a checklist in your EHR (we use Epic) to screen patients when ordering? Thank you!

Has anyone adopted nrFit?

We utilize Pyxis Anesthesia for medication storage in the OR suite. We have received a request from Anesthesia to allow them to store succinylcholine outside of the Pyxis for the purposes being prepared to treat laryngospasm citing the reason that they cannot take the time to type in the drug name to access when a patient is crashing. Has anyone run into this legitimate concern and what are you doing to address this, keeping medication safe storage in place.