Is it too late to say Happy New Year? Maybe Happy New NIOSH is more appropriate? 🥳

As you know, by the end of 2024, NIOSH delivered a present we’ve been waiting nearly nine years for. This present comes with a bag of screws and nails and that one tool that never works. In other words, we’re happy to have this guidance but it was not without some serious work to get the benefits.

Did you know there are still spreadsheets posing as effective formulary tools? I know, right? 

In healthcare, hazardous drug safety isn’t just a compliance box to check—it’s a critical responsibility shared across teams. Pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals all play a role in protecting themselves, their colleagues, and their patients from exposure risks.

We’re happy to have the opportunity to be a part of this story we are sharing with you today. 

As we reflect on the first full year since USP <800> became enforceable in early 2023, it's clear that compliance has been both a challenge and a learning opportunity for healthcare facilities nationwide. The initial inspections revealed that even well-prepared organizations discovered areas requiring additional attention and refinement in their hazardous drug safety protocols.

Founder of USP <800> Compliance, Healthcare Worker, Patient Safety Technology Provider Recognized for Thought Leadership Excellence  

The rate of healthcare system acquisitions and mergers continues to rise. Healthcare system mergers and acquisitions rose from 53 in 2022 to 65 in 2023, according to Chief Healthcare Executive Magazine. So far, in 2024, several significant acquisitions have been announced, including the acquisition of nine Ascension hospitals by Prime Healthcare and Risant Health’s planned acquisitions of several facilities.

We’re back with our next edition of Rpharmy Rounds, and today we are talking toilets. An interesting question came up on one of our clients’ Rhazdrugs demo they conducted for nursing (you can read about some of the questions they asked here).  One nurse asked how they know whether they need to isolate a patient from others or if they can use the same toilet. 

In an article from the Oncology Nursing Society, they highlight why it is important to communicate these instructions to nurses because many hazardous drugs can lead to bathroom contamination.  They conducted a project to examine contamination in both a patient and staff bathroom.  You can read more about their testinghere. 

The preparation is over. The accreditation inspectors have walked through the door. You’re thinking, ”We’ve got this! Bring it on!”

We recently attended HCP in Columbus, Ohio, where I had the opportunity to speak for five minutes in front of the providers in attendance. See a short video clip below. When I thought about what I wanted to convey in such a short amount of time, I reflected on the year we have had. Rhazdrugs has won Premier’s Innovation award, and I have won the Stevie Award’s Thought Leader of the Year. 

The accreditation inspectors are making the rounds, and this time, queries also include USP <800>. In other words, it’s go time! Are you ready?