FDA’s 1998 clearance of the first closed system drug-transfer device (CSTD) in the US marked a turning point toward increased safety for hazardous drug (HD) management (note: FDA clears CSTDs for marketing through the 510K process for medical devices). Prior to this, compounding and drug administration personnel had no option but to use devices that were not specifically designed to protect ... read more

As specialty pharmaceuticals continue to drive a substantial share of total drug spend, rigorous controls affect pharmacy’s ability to access these products and maintain continuity of care for patients. To address this ongoing challenge, many organizations have established specialty pharmacies or are considering this option. Implementing and expanding specialty pharmacy services requires robust ... read more

Tasks in pharmacy that are menial, yet crucially important, are always at risk for not being completed in a thorough and timely manner, thus raising the risk for potentially catastrophic results. With the introduction of automation to medication tray management, pharmacy can ensure that trays are fully and accurately stocked in a matter of minutes. Some of these systems also provide usage data, which ... read more

Q&A with Erin R. Fox, PharmD, BCPS, FASHPSenior Director, Drug Information and Support Services,University of Utah Health Pharmacy Purchasing & Products: What is the current state of drug shortages in the United States? Erin R. Fox, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP: The number of new drug shortages has decreased; however, long-term active and ongoing shortages are not resolving (see FIGURES 1 and ... read more

Precluding the need for IV access and infusion center or hospital visits, oral chemotherapy treatment proves beneficial; patients often prefer oral chemotherapy over its IV counterpart due to its convenience. Therefore, it is not surprising that oral chemotherapy treatment is increasingly common. In 2017, eight of the 16 new chemotherapy drugs approved by the US FDA were oral agents,1 and oral formulations ... read more