Drug Topics - December 17, 2007 - (Page 26)

26 DRUG TOPICS DECEMBER 17, 2007 www.drugtopics.com NEWS Roundup stored in one location during a patient’s hospital stay, reducing the chance for contamination and dispensing errors. The software also provides nurses with a warning when drugs should no longer be used and reminds them to transfer medications to a different part of the hospital when patients are transferred between floors or units. “Our SinglePointe solution addresses the time-consuming, inconsistent, and labor-intensive medication management procedures that remain in hospitals today by providing nurses and pharmacists with a single point of access for all patient medications,” said Randall A. Lipps, chairman, president, and CEO of Omnicell. amount of packaging materials that end up in landfills, he said. Entropy’s solution features a plastic corrugated box to ship medicinal products (similar to the plastic mail bins found in post offices) and liquidfilled plastic squares that freeze and thaw according to temperature changes. The solution also includes panels that protect the drugs from external temperature extremes. In addition, the box can be reused, enabling companies to meet state- or federally mandated “green” initiatives, Lindquist said. ASHP thinks Mevacor should not go OTC When FDA meets on Dec. 13 to consider whether Mevacor (lovastatin, Merck) should go over the counter, one organization the agency can expect to oppose the measure is ASHP In a letter to the FDA explaining its position, . ASHP said it believes it’s not safe for Mevacor to switch to OTC status. Instead, ASHP advised, moving it to a behind-the-counter category should be considered. ASHP recognizes pair for their patient safety endeavors ASHP kicked off its 42nd annual Midyear Clinical Meeting by honoring two people for their efforts to improve patient safety. During the meeting’s opening session at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, ASHP bestowed its Award for Distinguished Leadership in Health-System Pharmacy Practice on William W. Churchill, M.S., executive director of pharmacy services at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Churchill was honored for his work to improve the safety and efficiency of medication safety-related technology and automation, and for expanding the role of clinical pharmacy specialists through the use of medication safety technology. ASHP also doled out honors to Janet M. Corrigan, Ph.D., MBA, president and CEO of the National Quality Forum (NQF) in Washington, D.C. Corrigan received the society’s Board of Directors Award for Honor for highlighting the connection between the integrity of the medication-use process and the safety and outcomes of patient care. Corrigan serves on various boards and committees. Baxa launches improved pump and drug tracking system Pharmacists visiting Baxa Corp.’s booth at the ASHP midyear meeting in Las Vegas this week got to see some new products the Englewood, Colo., firm is launching. First there is the Repeater Pump II, which Baxa claims is the first no-calibration pharmacy pump that provides accurate liquid delivery regardless of source container, final container, tubing diameter, and fluid viscosity. The new pump will be available next spring. Then there is MedBoard, a Web-based system that keeps track of when drug orders not stocked in automated dispensing machines, such as first fills and compounded items, were delivered. Company unveils packaging technology to pharmaceutical firms A Minnesota company has debuted an environmentally friendly packaging technology that officials predict will drastically reduce the amount of drugs that go bad during shipping. Entropy Solutions Inc. of Minneapolis launched its GREENBOX at ASHP’s 42nd annual Midyear Clinical Meeting in Las Vegas, showcasing the technology that keeps temperaturesensitive drugs and blood supplies at consistent temperature levels for up to five days during shipping. Entropy’s president Eric Lindquist said the technology can help customers save up to 65% annually on shipping costs and reduce the amount of drugs that spoil during the shipping process (an estimated $3 billion annually). GREENBOX also helps cut down on the USP finalizes Chapter on compounding sterile preparations U.S. Pharmacopeia’s Sterile Compounding Expert Committee (SCC) has completed the review and revision of Chapter Pharmaceutical Compounding –Sterile Preparations. The revised chapter has been posted on U.S. Pharmacopeia’s Web site as a Revision Bulletin to allow practitioners the opportunity to review and assimilate the content of the chapter before it becomes official on June 1, 2008. It will be published in Second Supplement to USP 31 – NF 26, and in the Pharmacists’ Pharmacopeia. Once the chapter becomes official in June of 2008, the current version in USP 31 – NF 26 will no longer be the official chapter. DT http://www.drugtopics.com

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Drug Topics - December 17, 2007 Contents Noncompete Clause: Help or Hindrance? Don't Overlook Feminine Care and Family Planning Independent Pharmacies Are Dreaming of a Green Christmas Latest News Roundup

Drug Topics - December 17, 2007

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