As 2015 begins to settle in, many health system pharmacies are well on their way to implementing new programs and projects based on plans and projections established in 2014 and before. Invariably, there is a sense of renewed vigor at the start of each year, but the fall to reality is ineluctable. This is why our best laid plans, which themselves have unexpected twists, are yet so vital.
The Aristotelian idiom—well begun is half done—is particularly fitting for pharmacy initiatives that involve patient and employee safety. Often, the most difficult part of any project is getting started, so a solid, well-planned beginning can enable the rest of the project to run smoothly and is oft considered half the battle. A project topic that is sure to be much discussed in 2015 is the idea of adopting the impending tenets of USP General Chapter <800> Hazardous Drugs—Handling in Healthcare Settings.
As the effects of unsafe hazardous drug handling continue to be researched, the reality appears grim; there is simply no room for compromised safety when it comes to the hazardous materials that pharmacists and many other health care practitioners must contend with on a daily basis. See page 18 for more information on how pharmacy and nursing can collaborate to help raise consciousness among health care workers as to the importance of aggressive and comprehensive hazardous drug handling practices.
As regulations and best practices surrounding hazardous drug handling continue to evolve (see page 2), we encourage you to stay abreast of the latest information available. As part of this effort, we ask that you please take part in our annual State of Pharmacy Compounding survey, which will be emailed to you shortly. By participating in such surveys, you can do your part in assisting the progression of safe and effective pharmacy practices.
The staff of Pharmacy Purchasing & Products wishes you a healthy and productive 2015. We thank you for your continued support and for remaining staunch advocates for patient and employee safety alike.
P.S. We are pleased to announce that Jim Walsh, the pharmacy director at Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael, California is the latest PP&P survey winner! After completing our Going Green survey, Jim was selected as the winner of a Garmin FitBit Flex. Thank you all for participating, and keep an eye out for PP&P’s next—and very timely—survey: The State of Pharmacy Compounding.
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