in terms of shelf
life by virtue of
their stability at
room tempera-
ture.
Gaining trac-
tion
Although Apollo
Surgery Center
has had some
success with a
trio of medica-
tions as prefilled syringes, Ms. Allen says the facility does not plan to
expand the lineup. She adds, "I think we're in a good lane."
Mr. Karwoski says more and more ambulatory surgical centers like
Ms. Allen's are mulling — and even embracing — the option. Even so,
he says, "It's going to be a long time before you have an anesthesia
cart stocked with all prefilled syringes."
Mr. Sones says issues other than cost might be hampering broader
acceptance. As these products are provided by FDA-registered com-
pounding pharmacies, he points to the deadliest medication con-
tamination case in U.S. history (osmag.net/
jsns4u). The New England Compounding Center, a family-run phar-
macy in a suburban Boston strip mall, singlehandedly sparked a
nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis by selling tainted vials of
injectable steroid. The toll was staggering: 64 dead and more than
750 sickened.
"Because of what happened in Massachusetts 2 years ago, there has
been a natural reluctance, but that's improving," he says, adding that
1 0 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J a n u a r y 2 0 1 7
• ANALYZE THIS An analysis of how much medication you throw out can identify opportuni-
ties to reduce costs.
