Our system is approaching a project to integrate smart pumps (ICU Medical) with our EMR (EPIC). It would help to understand how others answered the question about nominal vs actual volume for large volume parenterals (LVP) and small volume parenterals (SVP). Our concern is greatest in the outpatient infusion center population where standard overfill in bags and medication additives, if left unadjusted, results in longer infusion times and shrinks capacity for treating patients.

Hello,
I would appreciate anyone that could share their push-dose pressor policy. We are in need. Thanks!

For ED nurse triage protocols, does your facility narrow the focus in terms of the population of patients who are candidates for certain meds?

TIA :)

For use of lidocaine infusions for pain within enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) workflows, comment on your practice regarding:
(1) Any restrictions (eg. criteria for use/specialty/population/dose/duration)
(2) Any required monitoring (eg. neuro checks, lidocaine levels, etc)
(3) Your standard dosage form and concentration for infusion
(4) Smart pump safety strategies outside of Guardrail file limits
(5) Any additional mechanisms of medication security

Terry Bosen, MSO
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN

We have limited storage of 23.4% sodium chloride to pharmacy, but are continuing to receive requests to have it available for emergent use in the NeuroICU, ED, and IR.

We are interested in learning about safety strategies employed by others who have elected to make these available via an automated dispensing cabinet outside of pharmacy.

Thank you for any information you have to share about your experience.

Sondra May, Pharm.D.
Medication Safety Coordinator

We have limited storage of 23.4% sodium chloride to pharmacy, but are continuing to receive requests to have it available for emergent use in the NeuroICU, ED, and IR.

We are interested in learning about safety strategies employed by others who have elected to make these available via an automated dispensing cabinet outside of pharmacy.

Thank you for any information you have to share about your experience.

Sondra May, Pharm.D.
Medication Safety Coordinator

Our health system is looking at allowing clinicians to hold medications from the manage orders activity in Epic. I'm looking for some feedback from other facilities that have implemented this functionality in Epic.

1. Are there any medications that you do not allow to put on hold (e.g,
anticoagulants, antibiotics, TPNs, etc.)?
2. What time limit did you set for the BPA reminder to fire? (Epic default is 72
hours)
3. Have you seen any issues or errors with this functionality?

Good afternoon. How does your site deliver Meds to Beds? Our outpatient pharmacy delivers to the inpatient unit automated dispensing cabinet and nursing is supposed to retrieve the medication from the ADC at discharge. We have had a trend of events in which a patient is sent home with someone else's discharge medications, despite warnings, signs, and other visual cues that we tried to put in place at the ADC. Do other sites deliver directly to the patient? If so, how do you handle controlled substances at the bedside? What do you do if discharges are delayed?

Hello,
We're running short of our supply of low volume syringes due to the need for COVID vaccinations. Our biggest concern at the moment is delivering insulin doses for hyperkalemia treatment safely and accurately. Have others encountered similar issues? Any recommendations on how to navigate?

Thank you for your feedback!

Hi, my facility is going through an IV room remodel and one of the strategies to reduce the need to go to the IV room is to utilize the proprietary vial-mate product line. The caveat would be to send the components bag/vial and connector in a baggie and have nursing connect on the unit. I am wondering if other sites currently do this, if so, what safety strategies, issues did you encounter when implementing/rolling this out. Thank you.