Leveraging a multidisciplinary oversight committee to ensure USP and compliance at a Veterans Affairs health system

• Published in: American journal of health-system pharmacy 2022-02, Vol.79 (4), p.276-282
• Main Authors: Wrzesniewski, Carolyn E, Park, Helen K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Humans; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Pharmaceutical Services; Pharmacies; Pharmacy; United States; Veterans
• ISSN: 1079-2082; 1535-2900
• DOI: 10.1093/ajhp/zxab412

Abstract Purpose Producing compounded sterile preparations (CSP) of the highest quality and ensuring safe hazardous drug handling are well-established priorities for pharmacy departments. Maintaining compliance with United States Pharmacopeia general chapters 797 and 800 (USP and ) must also be a priority for health-system leadership. This report describes how a pharmacy-driven multidisciplinary committee was created to provide USP and oversight within a multicampus Veterans Affairs health system and the facility and safety outcomes achieved. Summary The Veterans Health Administration required facilities to establish an oversight committee to ensure USP-compliant CSP procedures and the safe handling of hazardous drugs in all aspects of the medication-use process. Spearheaded by the pharmacy department, the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) chartered the CSP Advisory Committee to achieve this goal. The membership was composed of department heads in the areas of pharmacy, nursing, environmental management services, engineering, facility planning, safety, industrial hygiene, employee health, supply chain services, infection control, and quality management and the health system’s director’s office. The medication safety officer served as the executive secretary for the advisory committee and was responsible for agenda development, minutes, and coordinating timely follow-ups on action items; the VAPAHCS deputy director served as chair. Monthly meetings were conducted to receive updates on targeted sterile compounding and hazardous drug handling objectives: environmental controls and monitoring, compliance with regulatory requirements, staff competency, hazardous drug exposure event analyses, and development of well-defined health-system policy to guide practice. Conclusion Taking a multidisciplinary approach to USP and compliance facilitated communications, created engagement, and ensured completion of action plans.