Our surgeons have purchased Quest micro cardioplegia delivery systems. Do any of your hospital ORs use this perfusion technology? It needs to operate using undiluted potassium.  The OR is requesting we stock vials of potassium in their automated dispensing cabinets.  

What types of safety measures have you implemented for this situation?  

If you do not have this technology, I would still be interested in your thoughts in regards to how we could implement the use of this technology in a safe way.

  Any incite is most appreciated. Thanks!

Hi All,

We are having a lively discussion about this in my department and am really looking for your help.

How do you address this EP?  Where does medication preparation occur when it is outside of the pharmacy?

Do you have one space designated with/without tape for medication preparation?

Is this space used for other things or is it only for medication preparation?

Do you have a tray?

Do you have computers on wheels in the patient rooms with a workspace?  Do you use this workspace?

We would like to know if there are circumstances in which a nurse must prepare more than one medication in a single syringe for IV push use at the bedside?  What would the circumstances be-- Short stability?  No pharmacy availability after hours? Convienience?

What medications would these be?

How about anesthesia? What medications do they typically combine in one syringe for IV push administration?

1.  Are you an EPIC site and using or considered using  the auto verification functionality? 

2.  If you are using auto verification, where do you use it e.g.. PACU, ER etc.?

3.  If you are not NOT using auto verification can you tell me how long it takes for a pharmacist to verify orders in PACU or ER?  Will the nurses override if the pharmacist verification is slow?

Thanks.  Tom

Does anyone have guidance on pharmacy loading of chemoembolization beads for interventional radiology. Is the contrast added by the pharmacy staff or radiology? What measures are taken to not transfer a hazardous substance to a sterile syringe outside of a hood (done in the procedure by the doc)?

Do you monitor Pyxis overrides as a safety metric?  What is your target/standard?  Thanks

We implemented bedside barcode scanning of medications prior to administration about a year ago. Do you have a policy or procedure for the scanning when a nurse obtains the medication for a physician and then administers it at the bedside? Is it a written policy or just "understood"?

Thanks in advance for your response.

Donna Fine

Hello everyone,

We are close to depleting our supply of phentolamine. What alternatives are you providing for your medical staff?

Are you having the phentolamine compounded?

For those using nitroglycerin ointment - have you seen good case reports with use?

What concentration(s) of methadone oral solution do you carry in your inventory?

We currently have both 1mg/mL and 10mg/mL and had a near miss.

thanks

Susan