Dr office predrawling syringes and not labeling

[Eagle63903]

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Hello, I work at a hospital as a pharmacist and a friend who works at a local Dr office as a nurse said the local Dr. office draws up their medications into syringes and sets them in styrofoam cups to be used down the road so that they are readily available when needed. She mentioned mainly lidocaine. She is looking for information from national organizations saying why this is not legal or not a good idea to try and have them change their practice. Does anyone know if the DOH or any other regulatory organization have rules for this?

Reasons I gave her but don't have references to back it up off-hand:

1. The syringes are not individually labeled which could easily lead to a medication error by the incorrect medication being given.
2. The syringes are not labeled therefore do not have an expiration date on them.

She was also concerned about leaching of medication and the syringe wall but I do not believe that would be a concern for most medications.

If you work for the DOH or other regulatory organization and have any specific resources that would be excellent!

Thanks!

 

[confettiflyer]

I know unlabeled syringes are a HUGE joint commission sticking point, but I haven't heard of any being put on immediate jeopardy for it....maybe if you ignored them.

Outpatient clinic is kind of a wild west area to me...I wouldn't think drawing up syringes and leaving them unlabeled is a criminal/illegal act, but it could get you in trouble with accrediting agencies or your local DOH.

I really didn't contribute anything at all to the OP's question, haha.

 

[chuckle beast]

Hello, I work at a hospital as a pharmacist and a friend who works at a local Dr office as a nurse said the local Dr. office draws up their medications into syringes and sets them in styrofoam cups to be used down the road so that they are readily available when needed. She mentioned mainly lidocaine. She is looking for information from national organizations saying why this is not legal or not a good idea to try and have them change their practice. Does anyone know if the DOH or any other regulatory organization have rules for this?

Reasons I gave her but don't have references to back it up off-hand:

1. The syringes are not individually labeled which could easily lead to a medication error by the incorrect medication being given.
2. The syringes are not labeled therefore do not have an expiration date on them.

She was also concerned about leaching of medication and the syringe wall but I do not believe that would be a concern for most medications.

If you work for the DOH or other regulatory organization and have any specific resources that would be excellent!

Thanks!

How long are these syringes sitting around for? That may not comply with 797..

 

[Ackj]

A pharmacy where I did a rotation did this for their Fluvirin. Rather than draw up a dose every 5 minutes, we drew them up all at once and stood the syringes up in a 60 dram. Gave them 24 hour shelf life, but they rarely made it past a few hours. Would not recommend that at a slow store, but it was that crazy flu panic where we were giving 60 shots/day all week.

 

[chuckle beast]

A pharmacy where I did a rotation did this for their Fluvirin. Rather than draw up a dose every 5 minutes, we drew them up all at once and stood the syringes up in a 60 dram. Gave them 24 hour shelf life, but they rarely made it past a few hours. Would not recommend that at a slow store, but it was that crazy flu panic where we were giving 60 shots/day all week.

Be careful if a state board comes to visit, this is considered sterile compounding.

 

[npage148]

Wouldn't it be considered manufacturering/repacking since it is not pursuant to a patient specific order?

 

[WhiteSnows]

He may be in violation of USP chapter 797 pertaining to Immediate Use Beyond Use date.