you in the OR and understand how your ORs work. Pharmacists
should be in control of the entire medication flow and need to clearly
communicate any changes in the drugs they supply, especially when it
results in vials that look alike, or when there is a change in a concen-
tration provided.
A host of errors can occur when providers prepare their own
syringes: mislabeling, vial swaps and incorrect dilutions. Prefilled
syringes, or ones that are pharmacy-prepared, are generally safer,
because pharmacists prepare syringes in a quiet location with fewer
interruptions, and typically with safety checks built into that process.
• Smart storage. Lookalike and soundalike medications can be a
problem, so make sure such drugs are not stored in proximity to each
other; place alert labels on containers that contain drugs that are simi-
lar-looking or similar-
sounding to others in
your formulary.
Additionally, unique IV
solutions like glucose,
heparin, hypertonic,
sterile water and
epidural solutions
should be stored sepa-
rately from regular IV
solutions.
Medication trays
should be standard-
ized across all anes-
thetizing locations,
and the organization
of the trays should be
O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 5 5
