5 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 • A U G U S T 2 0 1 7
The sterile injectable
medication landscape
is ever changing. State
surveyors continue to
issue deficiencies
related to noncompli-
ance in the areas of
medication adminis-
tration, in both the
hospital and ambulatory care setting; CMS safe injection stan-
dards, labeling requirements and vial splitting continue to be
areas of focus during surveys. As regulation and federal oversight
increase on FDA-registered 503B Outsourcing Facilities, we
should all feel comfortable exploring compounding options.
The decision to move toward prefilled syringes begins with the
evaluation of medication utilization at your facility. Dilutions are
always a good place to start when considering which medications
are good candidates for prefilled syringes. Cataract centers could
move toward combo items that enhance efficiencies and improve
dilation, such as tropicamide 1%, cyclopentolate 1%, phenyle-
phrine 2.5% and ketorolac 0.5% in a single use 0.5-mL dropper
syringe. Or you might begin by looking at drugs like succinyl-
choline, which could allow for longer room-temperature shelf life.
Purchasing prefilled syringes drastically reduces the potential
for human errors in calculating dose and concentration, reduces
preparation time, decreases turnover time and removes the pos-
sibility of vial splitting. CMS has incorporated syringe labeling
CONSULTANT'S CORNER
Are You Ready for Prefilled Syringes?
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
"Dilutions are always a good place
to start when considering which
medications are good candidates
for prefilled syringes."
— John Karw oski, RPh, MBA
