Several months ago, in this same space, one of our clients shared her perspective around USP <800>. She discussed the complexity of managing the volumes of critical safety information and the continuous influx of updates, additions and changes. We felt it was a topic worth revisiting as we continue the conversation around the relationship between the cost and benefits of Rpharmy’s Rhazdrugs software.
In a given year, more than 12 billion doses of hazardous drugs are handled by providers in the United States1. This puts more than 8 million United States healthcare workers at risk for exposure2. That is one of the primary reasons that the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) created Chapter <800> last year. This enforceable regulation focuses on all healthcare personnel and entities that receive, store, compound, dispense, transport or administer hazardous drugs – physicians, nurses, pharmacists and technicians, janitorial services, housekeeping…the list goes on.
The USP <800> contains valuable information for managing the safety of practitioners and caregivers. But, it is not easy to navigate, particularly when you are in the throes of taking care of a patient. Imagine 25 Excel workbooks, with 10 worksheets, or physical reams and reams of paper to sift through. In 2020 alone, there have been 101 drugs reclassified, others removed, and just when many have finished hundreds of AOR’s (assessment of risk) from last year there are more to be done. And this has to happen in order to be compliant.
It. Is. Overwhelming.
The fact is that is it doesn’t have to be. Rhazdrugs is a central, easy to use system for access, storage and maintenance of the information needed to support being USP <800> compliant. This includes cataloging exceptions through AOR’s. And it’s relevant to a broad spectrum of healthcare providers. It saves time, it saves money, and more importantly it keeps those providing critical care safe.
Email me today at lpaxton@rpharmy.com or schedule a meeting with me so we can start a conversation about how the Rpharmy suite of products can help you to take care of your patients and your people.
2 “Hazardous Drug Exposures in Health Care.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4 May 2020, www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hazdrug/default.html.