We have seen a number of reports from Nursing staff regarding repeated occlusion alarms when running Ketamine infusion via the Alaris Syringe-pump module using a 30 mL syringe. The concentration is 5 mg/mL. Our theory is this may be due to the concentration of the medication.

If applicable, how are ketamine infusions administered at your institution? What concentration are you using? Have you seem a similar issue with occlusion alarms? Thank you!

I am gearing up for my 3rd medication safety student and am overall very excited about the opportunity to share my passion for medication safety with the next generation of pharmacists. For anyone who also has established an elective medication safety APPE rotation, would you be willing to share your "course objectives" or syllabus for your rotation? As a small rural hospital pharmacy director, I am by no means a "Medication Safety Officer" but feel that our setting is still very conducive to learning about medication safety. Are there any articles, books, videos, etc.

Do any sites have a nasal decolonization protocol? Even without a formal protocol, what products are you using?

I am currently evaluating between providone-iodine and alcohol based products, but of course, there are no head-to-head studies. Seems like either would be fine, but would be interested if someone has info showing superiority or why you went with a particular product.

TIA!

We're revisiting ISMP's recommendations on topical thrombin. What precautions has your facility put in place to prevent IV administration? Does your pharmacy prepare doses?

https://www.ismp.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2018-03/20170112.pdf

Thanks!
Joanie

1. For surgical prophylaxis in the OR, are your providers administering cefazolin IV push or intermittent infusion?

2. If intermittent infusion, what is the typical infusion duration at your site for anesthesia's purposes?

3. We are avoiding IVP due to some cases of serious ADR's but considering logistical concerns with a 30 min infusion which is our standard build outside of the OR setting.

4. If you made a switch from IVP to intermittent infusion, what was the rationale for that change at your site?

Is there a best practice recommendation for scanning individual ingredients vs. the final product when there is nurse admixture at the bedside?

An example: nurse has to mix an IV antibiotic prior to administration. When performing the scan, is your system process to have each ingredient scanned, or is a final product label/barcode provided to scan?

My gut feeling is that best practice would be to scan individual ingredients. There is always the possibility of a wrong product selection prior to the final admixture.

I know this has been discussed but i can't find the thread. Currently we do our DC for correction scale insulin at the pyxis machine. One of our COVID units is utilizing a clean nurse to hand the medications across the barrier to a COVID nurse. This process seems to be working but we are unable to accomplish the double check at the Pyxis machine. Has anyone tackled this problem already?
Appreciate any help you can officer.
Kim Gaillard

Greetings:

Due to COVID19 nephrology has requested using 5000units/ml heparin for a heploack flush. Because at the time the catheters varied and thus the amount of volume to be used to flush the catheter varies - we have been asked by providers to allow them to order by ml - does anyone have a guidance on the best practice for ordering a heplock flush

Does anyone have a policy on the newer concentrated insulins available (U-200, U-300)? When these are meant as basals, do you:
1. Convert to formulary basal?
2. Use patient's own pen? Where is the pen stored?
3. Bring pen to pharmacy and draw out individual doses? I know you're not supposed to draw out of a pen device, but would also prefer not to have this pen on the floor.

Good morning !
We have had a few medication errors around Heparin that involve changing weights of patients.
Do you allow the patient weight changes to automatically change a dose ? Or is there a % change cut off that you use ?

Just looking to make this action plan is around any high alert weight based medication- and not just heparin.
Thoughts ? Experiences?

Any information much appreciated
Laura