Has anyone dealt with the Impella VAD and heparin safety issues? My cards coordinator says it requires a heparin drip autotitrayedby the VAD controller to maintain a certain pressure, and that a separate heparin infusion is run via smart pump to achieve systemic anticoag.

Any experience/insight appreciated -

We are interested in adding Mifepristone to our formulary. We are concerned if this medication is accidently administered to the incorrect patient. We would be appreciative if you could share safe practices you put in place if this medication is on your formulary.

Thank you,

Mark Heelon
Medication Safety Coordinator
Baystate Health

Requesting suggestions for forcing function for Alaris pumps to prevent following scenarios:

First Situation: Secondary infusion running but during the course of infusion fluid bolus was ordered. User programs pump for bolus from primary bag but does not clamp or disconnect the secondary bag.

Second Situation: Secondary infusion is connected to port just below the pump module with a primary at varied rates including bolus infusion.

Other: user forgets to unclamp secondary, secondary is not connected to port, secondary hung but not programmed and runs at primary rate

Currently this alert in our system is set at 65 years of age so anytime a Category X medication is prescribed an alert fires. Short of turning the alert off completely and assuming that the Pregnancy Status is consistently updated in the EMR, what is your organization doing to ensure these alerts fire more appropriately? Did you set an age range? Other ideas? Thank you!

Does anyone have a policy or process that defines drug dosing in overweight children. I have multiple references that discuss multiple different medications but was curious if anyone has a defined policy or process already in place.

Thanks,

Randi

Does your institution recommend protecting furosemide infusions from ambient light?

Randi

Greetings,

Looking for what other facilities are using when a patient is ordered an opioid and a benzodiazepine as the safest amount of time to wait when giving one before administering the other.

I have heard a few facilities are using a 1 hour rule of thumb but could not find any literature to support any safe time frame.

Thanks,
Carol Welch, Pharm.D., M.S., CPHQ
Medication Safety Officer
Sparrow Healthcare System
Lansing, MI

Hello,
Would anyone be willing to share their hazardous medication list?
What are your requirements for PPE For oral hazardous med administration by nurses?

Thanks,
Rachel

Hello,
Would anyone be willing to share their hazardous medication list?
What are your requirements for PPE For oral hazardous med administration by nurses?

Thanks,
Rachel

Good morning,

We are exploring creating a peer review model (for pharmacists and technicians) to review medication errors that occur in the pharmacy. The intent is to ensure that we maintain a just culture approach and avoid the perception of punitive response to slips/lapses and identify system-based issues that may lead to error. While maintaining accountability for unsafe workarounds, breaches of policy/safeguards, etc.

Is anyone using or had experience with a pharmacy peer review process?