for those using meditech 6.15, how are you identifying/flagging pregnant patients to prevent MDs and PharmDs from prescribing and verifying potentially teratogenic medications?

What's hot in the way of inventory management (excluding shortages!)? How many days do you keep on hand and how did you establish that number? Does anyone have experience establishing LEAN inventory management with effective par levels? Or could you share a name of someone or some articles? I would like to hear from you.

When a patient is transferred from one unit of the hospital to another (i.e. ICU to floor or vice versa) what do you do with the actual medications that are stored on the patient's originating unit? Do the medications move with the patient? If yes, who moves them? Who puts them in the ADC? If the medications don't move with the patient who is in charge of getting them to pharmacy? Also, what is the usual turn around time then for the medications to arrive on the new unit.

We are going to be implementing some direct observations for different healthcare professionals and different processes as part of our pharmacy Residency program. I wondering if others currently do direct observation and if you have tools that you would be willing to share? I am also wondering if you could provide examples of processes that are observed in your facility?
Thank you

We recently re-introduced Monoject 60ml syringes in our institution. We were using BD syringes during the Monoject syringe shortage. We have seen an increase in occlusion alarms with continuous infusions when using the 60ml Monoject syringes. We use Alaris pumps. Has anyone else experienced this issue and what steps have you used to address the problem?

Thank you in advance for your response.

Our PACU (recovery room) orders are in dire need of revision. Could you please share a copy/screen shot of yours? We are struggling with the order of use of opioids... when to switch from fentanyl to a longer acting opioid(hydromorphone/ morphine)... max cumulative doses of each... Any help is appreciated!

Hi all -

Is anyone engaged in a community collaborative, encompassing multiple hospitals, to work on medication safety projects?

Thank you!

Elizabeth

Our institution recently went live with the Alaris PCA and end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) modules. We opted to implement the EtCO2 pause protocol (which will automatically pause the patients PCA when the RR drops below a pre-defined value).

We started out conservatively with an 8 bpm lower limit for adults. With this value, we have seen a lot of nuisance alarms and inappropriate pauses based on the actual patient presentation.

The national shortage of parenteral opioids is well known. Looking for hospital strategies to reduce the use of parenteral opioids quickly. Especially wondering about IV to PO criteria, for example.

Can you share what your facility does for any medication errors that reach the patient regarding notification of the patient/family and if/how it is documented in the medical record.

Do you have any policies/guidelines regarding this?

Thank you.