information, but it can
also suggest that drug-
mixing at the point of
care is happening,
which, as noted,
should be minimized,
if not eliminated.
It also helps to stan-
dardize both the drugs
and the concentrations
you use, as much as
possible. Error rates
are much higher when
busy nurses at the point of care are being asked to customize each
drug and each dose. Brightly highlight outliers (atypical drugs and
atypical doses).
Your policies and procedures that govern drug safety must be
accompanied by staff education. If you say you're going to put an end
to point-of-care compounding because the risks are too steep, make
sure the whole OR team is on the same page.
OSM
Dr. Viscusi (eugene.viscusi@ jefferson.edu) is a professor of anesthesiology,
chief of pain medicine and the director of acute pain management at Thomas
Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pa.
Thinking of Buying …
TB
9 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M a y 2 0 1 7
• PREPARED OR PREFILLED?
If you draw up a medication and
don't use it within 1 hour, you must
discard it. On the other hand, pre-
filled syringes have a long shelf
life, typically 30 to 45 days.
