Week 40

Introduction

Nau mai hoki mai, hello, and welcome back to ward management. 

In our last session, we introduced this topic and discussed the roles of pharmacy staff in the hospital ward environment. This week, we continue to discuss pharmaceutical ward stock and its management.

Prescribing and dispensing for hospital patients

When patients are admitted to a hospital, their medical team reviews their medical history, current condition and the medication the patient takes. Based on this assessment, they create a treatment plan, which may include prescribing medications. The medications are then documented on the patient's medical chart, either electronically or on paper, detailing the drug name, route of administration, dosage and frequency.

The nurses on the ward use the medication chart to select the correct medication from the stock of medicines kept on the ward (ward stock), or they may need to order it from the inpatient pharmacy. They then administer it to the patient according to the documented instructions.

Ward stock

Ward stock refers to the medications kept on a hospital ward or unit to meet the immediate needs of patients under the care of that specific ward. It typically consists of various medications, ranging from commonly prescribed drugs for conditions frequently encountered on the ward to emergency medications and those needed for routine procedures. 

For example, a cardiology ward will maintain a stock of beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors and statins, while a respiratory ward will have a variety of bronchodilators and steroids.

Purpose of ward stock

The purpose of ward stock is to ensure that ward staff have easy access to essential medications and supplies needed for patient treatment. It helps streamline the medication administration process and ensures patients receive timely and appropriate care. Without a stock of medication on the ward, each item prescribed for each patient must be individually dispensed, supplied by the pharmacy, and then sent to the ward. This could result in delays in treatment administration and potential disruptions in patient care.

Medication not on ward stock

Medication that is charted for a patient but that is not on that ward’s ward stock is dispensed individually for that patient through the pharmacy computer dispensing program.

In most hospitals, the pharmacist will complete a clinical check of the patient and their medications before dispensing them. This clinical check may involve accessing information from sites such as Eclair about their blood, kidney, and liver function tests.

The responsibility for obtaining the necessary medication from the pharmacy lies with the registered nurse of the patient needing the medication. The nurse will fax/email the patient's chart to the pharmacy and highlight the medication that needs to be individually dispensed. Alternatively, they may request from the electronic prescribing system.

The after-hours/emergency drug cupboard

If a patient is prescribed a medicine that is not available in the ward stock and the hospital pharmacy is closed, then medicines can be accessed via the after-hours or emergency drug cupboard. This cupboard can only be accessed by charge nurse managers and clinical coordinators for urgent after-hours items. Depending on the hospital, they may have a time-coded swipe card to access the cupboard, which doesn’t work during the hours the pharmacy is open.

Some of the medicines commonly stored in the after-hours cupboard are: 

• antibiotics
• antiretrovirals
• hyoscine hydrobromide
• adrenaline 
• antiemetics.

On-call pharmacist

If the medication is not in the after-hours/emergency drug cupboard, the on-call pharmacist can be rung. The on-call pharmacist has lists of medications on all the wards and can direct the person requiring the medication to the appropriate ward. If all else fails, the pharmacist can come in to open the pharmacy and obtain the medication.

Using the after-hours drug cupboard

It is important to have the after-hours cupboard adequately stocked at all times. This will reduce the number of callouts to the on-call pharmacist and make urgent items immediately available if necessary. Often, the medication will be packed into smaller quantities to reduce wastage.

All items taken from the emergency drug cupboard must be documented with the:

• date the medication was taken
• ward it was supplied to
• drug form
• quantity.

The ward that has used the medication will then be charged for it.

The pharmacy assistant or technician checks the emergency drug cupboard daily and replenishes it as needed.

Effective stock management

It is essential that ward stock is managed effectively and efficiently for the following reasons:

• Medication is a crucial part of a patient’s care: Without access to the necessary medications, patients may experience delays in treatment, worsening of their condition, or even adverse health outcomes. Therefore, supply needs to be reliable and accurate so that a patient’s safety is not compromised.
• Medication is extremely expensive: Inefficient management of ward stock can lead to wastage, overstocking, expiration of medications, or loss of inventory, all of which contribute to increased medication costs. Stock needs to be managed so hospitals can minimise unnecessary costs and allocate their budget more effectively to meet healthcare needs.

Storing stock

To ensure effective and efficient stock management, specific conditions must be met.

• Appropriate storage of medications, which includes enough space for the required stock, the correct environment for both shelf and refrigerated items, and protection from heat and direct sunlight. Incorrect storage not only causes stock loss and higher medicine costs it can also compromise patient safety if medications degrade or become ineffective due to exposure to inappropriate environmental conditions.
• Security of stock to prevent unauthorised access to the medicines, such as lockable access to the ward stock space and a controlled drug cabinet, is essential. Stock loss through theft results in increased medicine costs and compromises patient safety, as it can lead to shortages of crucial medications.
• A stock control system that monitors and analyses changes in stock levels and expiry dates.
• Clear and easy-to-carry-out processes and practices for ordering and processing medications.
• A system to track costs and accurately allocate them to the ward and individual patients.
• A system to reduce the likelihood of health professionals making mistakes when selecting and administering medicines to patients.  

Advantages and disadvantages

What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining a stock of medications on a hospital ward? Take a few minutes now to jot down your own thoughts before selecting the (+) symbol to compare with our lists. 

Ward stock management systems

The pharmacy computer software system is essential to effective and efficient ward stock management. As you have learned, Toniq or RxONE is the software program used in retail pharmacies. However, the most common software program in the hospital pharmacy is E-Pharmacy, though other systems may be used.

There are two different types of ward stock management systems:

1. Ward imprest system: This is carried out using the pharmacy computer software, which includes a ward stock management program.
2. Pyxis system: This automated system is used to store and dispense medication. It is integrated with the pharmacy computer software.

This week, we will turn our attention to the ward imprest system and explore how it works as well as its advantages and disadvantages. We will cover the Pryxis system next week. Hoake tatou (let’s go!).

Ward imprest system

The "imprest system" is the method through which a ward's stock of medicines is supplied from the hospital pharmacy to the various wards or units within the hospital. It involves maintaining a predetermined quantity (imprest quantity) of medications based on the specific needs and usage patterns of each ward.

The purpose of the system

The imprest quantity serves as a baseline ward stock level, ensuring that essential medications and supplies are readily available for patient care at all times. It helps prevent stockouts and ensures continuity of care, particularly during periods of high demand or unexpected events.

Maintaining stock

Maintaining the imprest quantity involves regular monitoring of inventory levels, expiry dates, timely replenishment of stock as needed, and adjustments based on changes in patient numbers or treatment needs.

The ward stock is replenished by pharmacy technicians or, more commonly, pharmacy assistants a set number of times a week. Generally, this is between one to three times a week, depending on the type of ward and their requirements. Theatres and the ICU may require more frequent restocking.

Imprest process

Pharmacy assistants and technicians play a central role in the imprest process. These are the steps that you can expect to follow when working in a hospital:

Extra points

There are some extra points to be aware of during this process, based on when the medication is required, what the medication is, and who is involved.

When

• If an imprest item is urgently required (i.e. it is not a day when the pharmacy staff have come to check the stock), a nurse will send an order down to the pharmacy. This is again picked and checked by pharmacy staff. Depending on the urgency, the nursing or pharmacy staff may take the medication to the ward.

What

• Some items on the imprest list need to be checked with extra vigilance, such as the cardiac resuscitation boxes. If any stock is missing from them, they need to be replaced as soon as possible. Often, a whole new box will be sent up, and the old one will be returned once the new box has arrived on the ward.
• During the stock checking process, the assistant/technician should look for any stock in the cupboard that is not on the imprest list and bring these items to the attention of the ward pharmacist. They may be the patient’s own stock that the ward staff are using, so removal is not recommended without the approval of the ward pharmacist or the nurse in charge.
  • Any medication labelled for individual patients should not be removed from the ward until the ward pharmacist or the nurse in charge has confirmed the patient is no longer on the ward or no longer requires it. Usually, there is a section for patient's own medications who are still on the ward and a return section.

Who

• Imprest lists are reviewed regularly between the charge nurse manager and the ward pharmacist using a report generated from the pharmacy software of imprest and dispensed times. Stock levels can also be reviewed earlier, for example, if prescribing practices and drug needs change (which happens regularly with funded brands on the Hospital Medicines List).
• Pharmacy assistants and ward technicians may be instrumental in alerting the pharmacist of the need to change imprest levels. 

Ward stock storage and expiry

It is important that ward stock of medicines are stored appropriately and that expiry date monitoring and management protocols are implemented to ensure the safety and efficacy of medications.

The nurses generally maintain the drug storage areas. If stock has been stored incorrectly, such as a fridge medication not being in the fridge, the assistant/technician should either put it in its correct location or, if necessary, replace it. If unsure about the product’s stability, the pharmacist should be consulted.

Managing medication’s expiry dates

Nurses and pharmacy staff are required to check expiry dates of medication regularly.

Here are some examples of how expiry dates are managed:

• The shortest-dated stock is rotated to the front of the shelves so it is used first before the longer-dated stock.
• Short-dated stock (less than three months) is stickered, and alerts on short-dated stock are also put on the imprest list.
• Medication that is due to expire within three months is sent to those wards that have a high turnover of that medication. In this instance, the first ward is credited back the cost of the medication.
• Once a month, pharmacy staff remove and replace stock that expires at the end of the month.

Using the ward imprest system

Let's consider the key points to remember when using the ward imprest system. As some of the sentences in the following activity are incomplete, find the answers in the content above or use educated guesses to fill in the blanks. This activity is designed to get you thinking about each point, so it's okay if you don't get all the answers correct. Use the 'Show solution' option to see the answers you missed, and be sure you understand these key points of the imprest system before moving on. 

Advantages and disadvantages

The ward imprest stock management system has advantages and disadvantages. Āta whakaaro (think carefully) and jot down at least two advantages and disadvantages before you expand the labels to compare your answers.

Ward imprest system summary

Tino pai tō mahi, good work. This was a lot to take on board! To consolidate what we have been learning about the ward imprest stock management system, complete the following six-question pātaitai (quiz).

Mahi pai, good work! You have completed another week of Professional Practice 2. Next week, we'll continue exploring ward stock management, shifting the focus to the Pyxis ward stock management system.

Afio mai, welcome to Dispensing 2 and our topic on aseptic compounding. Tenei wiki, (this week), we learn more about contamination control and the role of clean rooms. We will also identify different quality control measures and how to use them to ensure compounded medicines are safe for patient use.

Clean rooms

Last week, you became comfortable with a crucial element of contamination control, which involved donning PPE correctly. Another crucial part of the aseptic compounding process is using “clean rooms”. A "clean room" goes further than being just a tidy room! It refers to a highly controlled environment specifically designed to minimise the risk of contamination during the preparation of sterile medications.

The rooms are carefully engineered to meet strict standards, ensuring that airborne particles, microorganisms, and other contaminants are minimal. To visualise this, scroll back up to the image at the start of this topic.

Clean room design

One of the most important aspects of maintaining a sterile, clean room is ensuring that the filtered air flows consistently across the surfaces within that space. The design of the clean room directly impacts this.

There are two clean room designs:

1. unidirectional (vertical or horizontal)
2. non-unidirectional.

In basic terms, this means that the airflow either moves in one direction (unidirectional) or multiple directions (non-unidirectional). 

To view examples and find out more about each of these clean room types, expand the following labels.

Designing for clean rooms

When it comes to clean room design, the following best practice guidelines should be adhered to:

• Airlocks must be implemented to separate clean areas from adjacent dirty areas.
• Horizontal surfaces should be regularly cleaned as they are prone to microbial buildup.
• The construction materials used should be made for easy cleaning and disinfection.
• Equipment placement should not obstruct airflow or interfere with airflow patterns.

Clean room grading

In New Zealand, clean rooms are graded on their standard of cleanliness using a classification system based on letter grades A, B, C, and D. The grade is based on the number of particles present per cubic metre of air allowed at rest and when products are being made. Grade A is the most sterile, and grade D is the least sterile.

Clean room parameters

As you can imagine, it is crucial that the environment inside a clean room is well-controlled, reliable, and predictable. This ensures that conditions are optimal for aseptic compounding and ultimately maintains the sterility of pharmaceutical products.

To achieve this, these different environmental parameters must be controlled:

1. Air quality
2. Airflow
3. Temperature
4. Humidity
5. Pressure differentials
6. Surface cleanliness
7. Gowning and personnel practices
8. Equipment sterility

Put your brain to the test and match each environmental parameter with its description in this two-question pātaitai (quiz). You will be familiar with some of these already, but make sure to add any descriptions that are new to you to your notes or glossary.

Laminar airflow

Did you know that sneezing produces between 100,000 – 200,000 aerosol droplets, which can attach to dust particles and be present in the air for days or even weeks? Yikes. As environmental air can be highly contaminated (achoo!), laminar airflow is an important method used to control this.

Inside the clean room, aseptic compounding is usually carried out in these special work zones called laminar airflow hoods or isolator cabinets, which you can see in the image above. These zones help to control environmental air, almost like a (very) fancy extractor fan that most people have in their kitchens to remove the smoke and steam from the culinary delights cooking on the stovetop.

How it works

This is how a laminar airflow hood works:

1. Room air is taken into the unit and passed through a pre-filter to remove contaminants such as lint and dust. 
2. The air is then compressed and channelled up behind and through the HEPA filter (High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter), which removes all particles, even as small as 0.3 microns (the smallest of bacteria!). 
3. This clean, filtered air flows in one direction over the critical workspace. It is produced at a constant and positive flow and at a velocity (speed) that prevents room air from entering.

Types of laminar flow

There are two different types of laminar flow:

• Horizontal
• Vertical

Although these names provide a hint as to how each type works, read on to find out more.

Horizontal:

In this type of hood/cabinet, the filters are at the back of the unit, and the air streams horizontally over the critical zone towards the operator.

Image: Research Gate

Vertical :

In this type of hood/cabinet, the filters are above the work surface and force clean air downwards in vertical parallel streams.

Image: Research Gate

Benefits

The main benefits of using laminar airflow hoods include that:

• they provide clean air to the working area
• they provide a constant airflow out of the work area to prevent room air from entering
• the air flowing out from the hood suspends and removes contaminants introduced into the work area by personnel.

Working in a laminar airflow hood

These are some basic rules to follow when working in a laminar airflow hood:

• Airflow from the HEPA filter must never be obstructed. 
• Hands should never obstruct airflow around the area where the needle enters the vial or ampoule. 
• Items should be placed as close to the air source as possible. 
• Do not spray or squirt solutions onto the HEPA filter. 
• Minimise movements as much as possible inside the laminar airflow. 

Compounding isolators

Image: LABRepCO

Compounding isolators are similar to laminar airflow cabinets in that they are a specialised work zone inside a clean room. However, isolators are enclosed zones that offer increased protection for both operators and products. They have a glove-sleeve system that allows compounding personnel to access the interior workspace while maintaining sterility. This system typically includes gloves integrated into the enclosure walls and sealed access ports for compounding personnel to insert their hands.

Types of isolators

The two most commonly used isolators are:

• Positive pressure isolators: These isolators protect both the product and the operator.
• Negative pressure isolators: These isolators give greater operator protection but are less protective for the product. They are essential when cytotoxic products are prepared and are used to increase protection for the operator.

Quality control systems

The quality control systems for aseptic compounding refer to the comprehensive procedures and protocols implemented to ensure the integrity, safety, and efficacy of compounded medications. Without these in place, there’s a larger risk of microbial contamination, which could lead to serious consequences such as patient infections, compromised health outcomes and legal liabilities. 

“Quality control systems” is a broad term that covers a lot of different aspects. However, we will cover the following: 

• Operator technique
• Operator validation 
• Documentation
• Quality checks
• Error monitoring

Operator technique

The operator's correct technique to achieve product sterility is known as the aseptic technique. It plays a pivotal role as a quality control measure by reducing the risk of microbial contamination, which might otherwise compromise the integrity, efficacy, and safety of compounded products.

The most basic principle for the aseptic technique is known as the “no-touch” technique, which emphasises minimising direct contact with sterile components to prevent contamination. 

Key points

When using the aseptic technique inside the clean room and laminar airflow cabinets, you must do the following:

• Maintain sterility: Ensure that all surfaces, equipment, and materials within the clean room and laminar airflow cabinets are sterile before beginning the compounding process.
• Position work strategically: Place work mid-air whenever possible within laminar airflow cabinets to maintain unobstructed airflow and sterility.
• Avoid contamination sources: Keep fingers, loose clothing, and other potential sources of contamination away from critical zones within the working area.
• Follow proper procedures: Follow established protocols for compounding within clean rooms and laminar airflow cabinets, including using sterile gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Handle equipment correctly: Position needles, syringes and vials mid-air and point them upwards within the airstream. 
  • Uncapped needles should not have contact with any surface. 
  • When removing air from a vial, avoid aerosols or droplets being formed.
  • Hang large containers or IV bags from the rail inside the cabinet to gain the advantage of the airflow.

Operator validation

Operator validation ensures that compounding personnel have the required skills, knowledge, and training to uphold the sterility and safety of compounded medications.

Verifying competency

To ensure that they are competent in performing aseptic techniques and procedures, operators may undergo specific practical tests or assessments to assess their proficiency in aseptic compounding techniques.

These may include the following (interestingly named) tests:

1. Finger dab: This test assesses the operator's handwashing technique by examining the fingertips of gloves worn during the compounding process. The operator must touch their gloved fingertip onto a sterile agar plate. The agar plate is then cultured to detect any microbial contamination.
2. Broth transfer: This test assesses the operator's aseptic technique. The operator carries out the aseptic transfer of a sterile broth from one container to another using a sterile implement. The transferred medium is then cultured to detect any microbial contamination.

Documentation

Documentation plays a crucial role as a quality control system in aseptic compounding by providing a comprehensive record of the compounding process. It creates a complete set of records and establishes an audit trail for all activities, including the work performed, materials utilised, and personnel involved in the process.

By carefully documenting each step of the compounding procedure, errors can be minimised, and corrective actions can be promptly implemented if necessary. Documentation also serves as a valuable resource for investigating incidents or resolving issues.

As you can see, most of the following documentation types used will be familiar to you at this stage of your studies:

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Batch manufacturing records 
• Product specification documents 
• Staff rules and policies 
• Equipment performance checks

Quality checks

Quality checks are another quality control system. Checks are conducted at various stages of the compounding process and are meticulously documented. These checks begin with examining materials before assembly and continue at each subsequent step until the final release is authorised. By implementing checks throughout the entire compounding process, any issues or deviations can be promptly identified and addressed, minimising the likelihood of errors or contamination.

Error monitoring

Error monitoring must be carried out to ensure the quality of aseptic compounding. Error monitoring involves identifying and fixing issues or discrepancies in the compounding process. By detecting and addressing errors promptly, this process can prevent potential risks to patient safety and product quality.

Error monitoring typically includes methods such as visual inspections, automated monitoring systems, documentation review, and staff training to ensure adherence to protocols and minimise the occurrence of errors.

Common errors include:

• mistakes in transcription
• calculation errors
• inaccuracies in drug selection, dosage, or strength
• improper dilution of infusion fluids
• incorrect final volume
• labelling errors or using the wrong container
• inaccurate expiration dates.

Given the number of potential error sources in aseptic compounding, it is vital to record all errors and near misses. In the healthcare industry, quality improvement is especially important. If healthcare workers repeat the same mistakes, the safety of patients is at risk. That’s why providing staff with a list of common errors is a proactive way to raise awareness and prevent the errors from happening again.

Environmental monitoring

Environmental monitoring is an important aspect of quality control. This involves testing equipment, cleanrooms, and personnel to ensure that:

• clean rooms, laminar flow units, and isolator cabinets function according to specifications
• facilities and equipment maintain the environmental conditions within acceptable limits
• SOPs are being adhered to to preserve the integrity of the cleanroom environment.

Legislations and standards

Quality control is also achieved by strictly adhering to the legislation and standards for aseptic compounding. These include:

• Health and disability services Standards - Pharmacy services Standard: NZS 8134.7:2010 
• Medicines Act 1981
• Medicines Regulations 1984
• Current internationally recognised standards for good manufacturing practices of aseptic compounding.

Audits are carried out to ensure these standards are met. These include internal audits, which are carried out by staff, and external audits, which staff independent of the unit carry out.

Knowledge check

Ka pai, well done. Now that you've completed reading about clean rooms and quality control systems use your brain in a different way to complete this nine-question quiz to challenge your understanding of these concepts. Karawhiua, give it your best shot!

Congratulations, you have now completed our topic on aseptic compounding. Our upcoming session will introduce a new topic (and acronym for your glossary), Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN).