A recent near miss documented event highlighted that both our backup supply spinal and epidural supply kits contained a high dose EPINEPHrine 1 mg/mL 1 mL vial in addition to lidocaine. Our frontline supply kit offering on each is a custom kit that does not contain EPINEPHrine, but when this goes on back order currently we are subject to interfacing with the kits with both lidocaine and separate high dose EPINEPHrine to my understanding. These kits are made by BBraun and Smith Medical.

All,
I am interested to learn how institutions are preparing for the new epinephrine non-ratio labeled vials. Will you be changing your vials in your code carts and hospital wide all in one go or will this be in phases? My concern lies in having both the ratio and non ratio vials available especially in pharmacy.

Thanks!
Rachel

My organization recently went live with Epic. The labels designed by our IS team are terrible; the pharmacy medication labels are confusing, difficult to read, and lacking proper information I am looking for examples of pharmacy labels from other Epic users to share with our builders. Any examples would be appreciative.

Thank you!
Laura

Question for the group: does your organization use dispensing pins during sterile compounding? If so, here are my questions:

1. What type of products do you use them for (MDVs, SDVs during drug shortage when you are trying to batch or alliquot, etc..)?2. what is your policy for length of use/expirations dating when using one with a MDV (do you keep pin in vial and give 28 day or do you only utilize for one compounding session, 24 horus, etc..)?
3. Does policy on expiration dating change if you keep the vial in the hood?

Thanks!
Shawn

Hello,

Our hospital system is currently undertaking some work to expand our capability to bolus medications from a continuous infusion bag. We are looking to build EMR orderables and program said bolus/infusion orderables in our smart pumps.

What drugs do you commonly bolus from the bag? Is this function limited to specific areas of the hospital?

What other measures do you have in place to make sure this process is done safely?

Thank you in advance for your response!

How does your facility handle home medications during observation stays? Do you provide them free of charge or allow the patient to take their own? If the patient takes their own does the pharmacist verify prior or are they handled differently than inpatient home medications? Are there other times when home medications are handled differently within your institution?

I'm looking to capitalize on what you seasoned experts have come up with for education to your new pharmacy caregivers, as well as perhaps annually for your regular pharmacy team. I've reviewed something form ASHP, and didn't love it so I was just looking for what others might have come up with.

Has anyone implemented the new enteral feeding connectors yet? Please share any lessons learned in terms of medication preparation and delivery via the new system.

Thank you.

Nursing has brought up a safety problem: they often do not get clear instructions from the surgeon on which meds to give or hold prior to an inpatient going to surgery. They often use their own judgment (clearly outside of nursing scope). On top of that, we have the classic communication problems when multiple providers are co-managing a patient (Example: Will the cardiologist d/c the Plavix or is it the surgeon's job? What's the plan?).

I'm looking for ideas! If your institution has this figured out, please share.

Thank you,

Erica

Does anyone have a policy/procedure/protocol for administration of insulin infusions outside of the ICU? Specifically, I am looking for safety strategies, monitoring parameters for nurses, and patient indication.

Thank you in advance.
Amanda