A core competency for pharmacy is ensuring the safe and effective use of medication, but frequently pharmacy is tasked with managing areas outside their area of expertise. For example, effectively managing infection control in the cleanroom is a responsibility that should be undertaken in consultation with infection control professionals. To read about the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology’s five key compounding concepts that pharmacists should understand, as well as how APIC, the CDC, and <797> differ in guidance on environmental sampling, CLICK HERE. Need to find cleanroom cleaning products? CLICK HERE.

Do You Know . . .
Which questions are most effective to ask when interviewing an employee suspected of drug diversion? CLICK HERE to find out.

In recent years, drug shortages have become a serious, nagging problem that every hospital pharmacist must address. One of the most frustrating aspects of shortages is that the vast majority of them may well be avoidable, but until fundamental changes to manufacturing processes and systems are made in the US, shortages will remain a reality. With so many existing shortages—and new ones occurring daily—facilities with well-developed programs and active committees to address this issue are at a distinct advantage. To explore Massachusetts General Hospital’s approach to effectively managing shortages, CLICK HERE. To read tips for weathering drug shortages from Erin Fox, PharmD, manager of the drug information service at University of Utah Health Care, CLICK HERE.