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THINKING OF BUYING ...
pharmaceutical companies have suffered recalls over the years. The
key here is to identify compound pharmacy leaders with track
records and accreditation credentials that are impeccable.
• What's the best way to choose a compounding service? The outbreak and
its aftermath will lead many facilities to seek other sources or evaluate their current contracts. How can they make an informed decision?
The FDA has limited supervision over compounders, and not every
potential surgical center can visit the compounding sites or know
what to look for. But the International Academy of Compounding
Pharmacists (IACP) has developed a checklist of criteria for making a
selection (tinyurl.com/96bn9qy), and accreditation by the Pharmacy
Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) is a mark of excellence.
Submit the IACP's questionnaire to any services you're considering.
• How should we safeguard our use? Compounded and prepared pharmaceuticals should be used precisely as directed. In the case of preloaded syringes, pre-filled pain pumps or ready-to-use sterile admixtures, no other drugs should be mixed in. Standard rules of injection
safety apply: These packages are for single-patient use only and
should not be tapped like vials for multiple uses.
• What do you see on the horizon? It seems reasonable to assume that the
next surveyors who visit your facility will be more focused than ever
before on how you handle sterile products in general, and single-dose
vials, multiple-dose vials and compounding in specific. You can expect
inquiries about whether and how your facility is prepared to handle
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