A 21-member expert panel convened by the ASHP Foundation identified 10 recommendations for enhancing insulin-use safety across the medication-use process in hospitals. Professional organizations, accrediting bodies, and consumer groups can play a critical role in the translation of these recommendations into practice. Rigorous research studies and program evaluations are needed to study the impact of implementation of these recommendations.
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Medication Management Standards and certain National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) contain specific requirements aimed at promoting medication safety. Medication Management Standard 2.30 requires that emergency medications are consistently available, controlled, and secured. Changes made in 2004 in the CMS Interpretive Guidelines for hospital Conditions of Participation deal with security of mobile carts. Since JCAHO requires compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, these CMS regulations need to be considered when designing and controlling emergency medication supplies. Medication Management standard 4.30 requires that medications are labeled. A new 2006 NPSG details requirements for medication labels on and off the sterile field.
Purpose
The 2020 Safe to Touch Consensus Conference on Hazardous Drug Surface Contamination was convened in order to gather subject matter experts in the field of hazardous drug (HD) handling to develop consensus statements regarding surface contamination monitoring for adoption by stakeholders in the drug supply chain, policy, and healthcare arenas.
Summary
The Safe to Touch conference convened virtually on September 22, 24, and 26, 2020. An expert panel of healthcare providers with experience in HD handling, monitoring, and research; pharmacy and nursing operations; and medication safety led the conference. An experienced audience of approximately 25 reaction panel members provided feedback to the panel via a preconference survey, during the conference, and at a postconference virtual town hall. Additionally, expert speakers presented on a range of issues, including the impact of HD surface contamination on health, current regulations and standards, surface contamination monitoring technologies, and variables impacting surface contamination testing.
Conclusion
At the end of the conference, the expert panel developed 11 consensus statements and corresponding recommendations that should be widely disseminated in order to educate individuals regarding the impact of HD surface contamination and increase the scope of HD surface contamination monitoring. Institutions involved in the handling of HDs should set short- and long-term goals for implementation of applicable consensus statements.
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