More drug shortages are expected and could impact ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). Some of the most commonly used medications in ASCs, such as propofol and the local anesthetics, continue to show up on the most recent drug shortage lists. Does your facility have a plan in place to ensure an ongoing supply and minimize disruptions to patient care?
The CDC is alerting healthcare providers on highly antibiotic resistant infections with patients who underwent invasive procedures in Mexico. Are you screening your patients for recent international travel? What steps are you taking to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria? In this post we discuss the latest CDC update and steps you can take to protect your patients.
Whether it’s the ongoing drug shortages or the need for a specialty product, the use of compounding pharmacies, specifically outsourcing facilities, is often convenient, if not a necessity. How safe is a compounding pharmacy/outsourcing facility? Is there a way to screen the good from the bad one? In this post we discuss the safety of compounded medications and what you can do to enhance patient safety and reduce your liability.
What Herbal, and vitamin supplements increase the risk of bleeding? Believe it or not, the list is longer than you’d expect and the risk is real. Herbal supplements can impact surgery in various ways, from additive sedation to increased bleeding risk. It’s important that the entire team be aware ahead of time, but patients don’t usually disclose herbal supplements because they may not consider them to be medications. So how are you screening your patients and mitigating this risk?
Be Antibiotic Aware and join the CDC’s educational effort to help improve antibiotic prescribing and use in the United States. The U.S Antibiotic Awareness Week kicks off today and runs through November 24th.
How to cut cost with benchmarking is not a question we normally hear. We know facilities need to obtain and monitor both internal and external benchmarking as a requirement of accrediting organizations such as the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). We also know finding cost effective medications is a priority that can have a big impact on profitability. Is it possible to use benchmarking to save money? Yes! And here is how.
