10 Steps to Develop and Implement a Pharmaceutical Waste Management Program

Step 1 begins with some action items that you can begin immediately.

• Designing and implementing a successful pharmaceutical waste management program requires an interdisciplinary approach involving:
  • Senior management
  • All stakeholders as appropriate; Consider the following:
    • Environmental Health & Safety Committee or similar
    • Pharmacy
    • Environmental Services
    • Safety
    • Nursing
    • Education
    • Infection Control
    • Facilities/Engineering
    • Administration
    • Laboratory
    • Purchasing/Materials Management
  • Regular meetings should be held
  • Develop and implement the program
  • Include budgetary impacts, opportunities, challenges, financial implications
  • Appoint a "Designated Leader" for the program

NEXT WEEK: Step 2

http://www.hercenter.org/hazmat/tenstepblueprint.pdf

Sanitizing Gel Formula Alternate

Due to the shortage of alcohol-based gels for disinfection and some ingredients for compounding the hand-sanitizing gels, the following is a formula IJPC published in this newsletter (Vol. 6, No. 44; October 30, 2009.) This formula can be used as a simple solution by adding two powders to a commercial bottle of rubbing alcohol and relabeling. NOTE: COMPOUND ONLY IF ALLOWED BY REGULATORY AGENCIES.

METHOD OF PREPARATION

1. Calculate the required quantity of each ingredient for the total amount to be prepared.
2. Weigh and/or measure each ingredient accurately.
3. Mix the two powders.
4. Add the mixture from step 3 to a bottle of isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Note: It may be necessary to remove a few milliliters of the IPA.
5. Shake well periodically.
6. Allow to set overnight.

Note: If available, replace the cap with a spout cap.

LABELING
Label properly.

News

AmerisourceBergen Closing Its 503B PharMEDium Outsourcing Facilities Due to Regulatory Issues
AmerisourceBergen Corp. is shutting down PharMEDium by the end of this year in a move that will impact about 1,000 employees in four states. PharMEDium has compounding facilities in Dayton, New Jersey; Cleveland, Mississippi; Sugar Land, Texas; and Memphis, Tennessee. In May 2019, a federal judge issued a permanent injunction blocking the Memphis plant, PharMEDium's most active, from manufacturing activities after the FDA had issued numerous warnings for safety violations that were not addressed by PharMEDium. At that time, the company ceased operations at its Mississippi facility.
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2020/02/03/amerisourcebergen-closing-compounding-pharmacy.html

The Joint Commission Suspends Regular Surveys
The Joint Commission has suspended regular accreditation and certification surveys to let healthcare organizations concentrate on the new coronavirus pandemic. The commission suspended all regular surveys beginning March 16 with no anticipated date to restart them. If a healthcare organization's accreditation renewal date passes while surveys have been suspended, their accreditation will be extended without disruption, the commission said.
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/patient-safety-outcomes/the-joint-commission-suspends-regular-surveys.html

California Turns to Vacant Hospitals and Hotels
California is preparing for worst-case scenarios resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, and its hospitals are bracing for a huge influx of patients. At a news conference on March 17, Gov. Gavin Newsom said that the 415 hospitals in the state for a worst-case scenario would be short 20,000 beds. To help manage a surge in hospitalized patients, California plans to buy two vacant hospitals, and the state is negotiating with about 900 hotels to acquire rooms for patients needing hospitalization and for the homeless.
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/patient-flow/california-turns-to-vacant-hospitals-hotels-to-prep-for-surge-of-covid-19-patients.html

Did You Know ...

...that Will Rogers said the following?

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

Tip of the Week

If one accomplishes something but does nothing else, he/she is soon forgotten by those coming right behind. Even though one is successful, that success will be short-lived if one does not keep going, and you are quickly forgotten!

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Looking Back

Shaving brushes,
Soon will be trimmin'
Those screwy hats,
We see on wimmin!
     Burma-Shave