ments and compares favorably with other compounding vendors.
Review recent FDA findings on inspections of compounding phar-
macy providers. Before using the services of a compounder, you'll
want to find out if there are any red flags about its current or past
practices. The FDA provides a wealth of info on facility inspections
and recalls online, and you can access this info through a simple
Google search. Type "Compounding pharmacies FDA inspections"
into your search engine, and you'll find outcomes that validate FDA-
successful reviews. Go to osmag.net/7RrPkC for a listing from the
FDA's website of "Compounding: Inspections, Recalls, and other
Actions."
Error-proofing essentials
You'll never completely prevent medication mishaps from occurring,
but you can come pretty close. Make sure all drug labels for pre-
drawn medications have each of the 5 required elements (drug name,
strength, time drawn, initials of preparer and date drawn). Have a pol-
icy for both multiple- (MDVs) and single-dose vials (SDVs).
• SDVs. For SDVs of drugs like propofol, use the vials for single
patients only. Speaking of propofol, you'll want to stock some sulfite-
free versions of the drug for patients with sulfite allergies, and admix
propofol with lidocaine just prior to the need whenever possible, and
not longer than 1 hour from use. (Note: I prefer separate injections
rather than "mixing.")
• MDVs. MDVs that you use in patient care areas like the OR should
be for 1 patient only. Be sure to time-date MDVs used outside of direct
patient care areas per the 28-day rule (discarded within 28 days unless
the manufacturer specifies a different [shorter or longer] date for that
opened vial).
If you stock secured drug samples, you must somehow track every-
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